United News of Bangladesh

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur met members of American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) to discuss the Trump Administration’s priorities for strengthening US businesses and promoting US exports. US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen, AmCham President Syed Ershad Ahmed and its executive committee members joined the reception at a city hotel on Wednesday evening. BNP delegation meets US Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur Assistant Secretary Kapur and Ambassador Christensen joined the American Chamber of Commerce to hear member companies’ perspectives on business and investment opportunities and discuss the Trump Administration’s priorities on promoting US business and US exports, said the US Embassy in Dhaka Thursday. The US official also met the leaders of ruling party BNP and opposition party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday. A five-member BNP delegation met him the US Ambassador's Gulshan residence. BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan led the delegation. Other members of the delegation were Barrister Nawshad Zamir, Mahbubur Rahman, Nayab Yusuf and Nipun Roy Chowdhury. Assistant Secretary Kapur and Ambassador Christensen met with Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday to discuss key US priorities in Bangladesh, expanding market access for American businesses, strengthening cooperation on illegal immigration, and deepening collaboration on regional security and counterterrorism. He also met with Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir to advance US-Bangladesh trade relationship and discuss potential for increased business-to-business cooperation. They met with Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood to discuss US-Bangladesh energy cooperation and opportunities for American companies to supply reliable energy to people and businesses across Bangladesh.

Libyan Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdul Mutalib SM Suleiman on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon. During the meeting, the Libyan envoy expressed his country’s full support for Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman as a candidate for the Presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the 2026–2027 term. The adviser expressed gratitude to the government of Libya for its support, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony. He said Bangladesh highly values the gesture and hopes that Libya’s support for Bangladesh’s candidature at the international level will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between the two countries. During the meeting, the two sides also discussed bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Libya, ways to enhance mutual cooperation, and the possibility of working together on various international issues, he added.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar Verma on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, where they discussed bilateral cooperation and regional stability. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony. He said the discussion focused on the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and India along with issues of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. PM urges frugal electricity use after switching off half the lights at office Rony said the adviser and the Indian envoy also exchanged views on the long-standing friendship between the two countries, as well as regional stability, trade, connectivity and development cooperation. He said both sides expressed hope that the close ties between Bangladesh and India would grow stronger in the coming days. They also reaffirmed their commitment to working together for the welfare of the people of the two countries based on mutual respect, trust and cooperation, Rony added.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has reaffirmed Bangladesh's firm commitment to consolidating and deepening the longstanding friendly ties between Bangladesh and Argentina with enhanced cooperation in priority areas. Ambassador of Argentina to Bangladesh Marcelo Carlos Cesa met the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday and both sides identified priority areas to enhance cooperation. The particularly discussed ways to expand bilateral trade with a focus on diversification of exports and imports, strengthening technical collaboration in agriculture, advancing sports cooperation, including through effective implementation of the existing MoU on football, and exploring opportunities for cooperation in energy trade and supply chain partnerships and enhanced apparel exports from Bangladesh. The Foreign Minister proposed a multi-sectoral dialogue among relevant stakeholders with a focused agenda to advance bilateral cooperation. He also appreciated the reopening of the Argentine Embassy in Dhaka and Argentina's recent concurrence to the reopening of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Buenos Aires. He underscored Bangladesh's commitment to operationalising its resident mission in Buenos Aires at the earliest opportunity to further institutionalise bilateral engagement, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bangladesh’s economy faces a significant risk of sudden uncertainty if the conflict in the Middle East expands further, economist Professor Selim Raihan has warned. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Raihan said the situation became more alarming after Iran on Monday declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, triggering sharp volatility in the global energy market. “Tehran has reportedly warned that its Revolutionary Guard and navy would take strict action against any vessel attempting to cross the strategic waterway.” He said that a substantial share of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz. “Any disruption to shipping along this route could cause major interruptions in global energy supply, with immediate consequences for import-dependent economies such as Bangladesh.” Raihan noted that Bangladesh’s energy security could come under serious strain in the current circumstances. “Although the country has some reserves of oil and LNG, prolonged disruption to fresh imports may quickly deplete existing stocks.” He observed that LNG prices in the international market have already started to rise amid growing uncertainty. “Higher import prices would increase the cost of electricity generation, as Bangladesh relies heavily on imported fuel for power production.” If electricity and fuel prices rise, production costs across industries would increase, transport expenses would go up and overall inflationary pressure would intensify, he said. “The combined effect would push up the cost of living for ordinary people while weakening the competitiveness of the country’s industrial sector in export markets.” Raihan cautioned that there is little ground for optimism that the crisis will be resolved quickly. “A prolonged war could create significant global economic stress, which would inevitably spill over into Bangladesh’s economy through trade, energy and financial channels.” He stressed the need for immediate government preparedness to manage potential fallout. According to Raihan, policymakers should convene urgent consultations with business leaders, energy experts and economists to formulate a coordinated response strategy. Among the measures he suggested are exploring alternative sources of energy supply, diversifying import origins, strengthening strategic fuel reserves and curbing non-essential expenditure to ease fiscal pressure. He emphasised that timely and coordinated action would be crucial in mitigating the impact of a possible prolonged global energy shock. He mentioned that proactive planning and swift policy coordination would be essential to safeguard macroeconomic stability and protect vulnerable groups from the brunt of potential price shocks.

The Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI) recently hosted a dua and iftar mahfil at the Ballroom of The Westin Dhaka. The event brought together diplomats, senior government officials, leaders of trade bodies, presidents of bilateral chambers, members of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB), directors and members of BCCCI, and representatives of the media. BCCCI holds first meeting of president’s advisory standing sub-committee in Dhaka Among those present were Song Yang, Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bangladesh; Md Golam Rasul, Chief of the Special Branch (SB) of Police; Mahbubur Rahman, President of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Bangladesh; Han Kun, President of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh; and Nargis Morsheda, former administrator of BCCCI and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce. Song Yang highlighted the growing investment cooperation between Bangladesh and China. Since August 2024, more than 30 Chinese enterprises have signed investment agreements with Bangladeshi partners, with intended investments totalling nearly $1 billion, he said. BCCCI President Khorshed Alam stressed the importance of expanding bilateral trade and investment. He noted that China has granted 100 per cent duty-free access to Bangladeshi products and encouraged exporters to take advantage of the opportunity by promoting items such as fruits, vegetables, shrimp, agricultural goods and leather products. BCCCI signs MoU to enhance Bangladesh-China vocational, skills cooperation Han Kun reaffirmed the commitment of Chinese enterprises to supporting Bangladesh’s development through investment, industrial cooperation and participation in development projects. The programme ended with prayers and iftar, reflecting the spirit of friendship and cooperation between the business communities of Bangladesh and China.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday rejected claims that the reciprocal trade agreement between Bangladesh and the US was signed abruptly just days before the recently held national election. He said the matter had been discussed in advance with the leadership of the country’s two major political parties - BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami- and both of which had agreed to the deal prior to its signing. "The US Trade Representative spoke to the heads of our two key parties before the elections and they also agreed to it. So it's not like we did this in the dark,” Dr Khalilur said in response to a question on whether there had been any pressure to expedite the signing of the deal ahead of the recently held national election. The Foreign Minister said there are entry and exit clauses and the government can review it if it desires so.  US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur, who met the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored the importance of implementing the provisions of the agreement on ‘reciprocal trade’ to foster greater bilateral trade and investment. The Foreign Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to policy continuity, particularly in the economic domain. Assistant Secretary Kapur, in the meeting, discussed key US priorities in Bangladesh, expanding market access for American businesses, strengthening cooperation on illegal immigration, and deepening collaboration on regional security and counterterrorism. The deal says Bangladesh shall endeavor to increase purchases of US military equipment and limit military equipment purchases from certain countries; and shall endeavor to facilitate the increase of purchases by its national flag carrier (Biman Bangladesh Airline) of U.S. civilian aircraft, parts, and services. Bangladesh will submit a full and complete notification to the WTO of all subsidies that it provides, as required under Article 25.1 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures within six months of entry into force of this agreement. Biman Bangladesh Airline intends to purchase 14 Boeing aircraft, plus a purchase option of additional aircraft. The deal also says Bangladesh shall endeavor to purchase, or to facilitate the purchase by Bangladeshi companies, of U.S. energy, including long-term offtake agreements for U.S. liquefied natural gas, with an estimated value of $15 billion over 15 years. Khalilur, who played a leading role on Bangladesh's side in negotiations with the US before the agreement, said the deal was not concluded just three days before the elections but a year ago, in February 2025. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) recently said the reciprocal trade agreement between the US and Bangladesh is “highly discriminatory” and must be revoked. “We are stunned and bewildered….I do not know how a government could enter into such an agreement,” said CPD Research Director Khondaker Golam Moazzem at a media briefing on the social and economic policies of the new government for the first 180 days and beyond.

To mark International Women’s Day, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Bangladesh on Wednesday organised an Open Mic event at Shahabuddin Park in the city’s Gulshan area to raise their voices for the rights, justice and empowerment of women and girls across the country. With the global theme “Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls,” the event created a public platform for women, girls, men and boys to share their reflections, commitments and aspirations for a more equal Bangladesh. Foreign Adviser lauds UNFPA’s role in maternal health, gender equity in Bangladesh Addressing the gathering, UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh Catherine Breen Kamkong thanked participants for their courage and engagement, emphasizing that meaningful change begins by listening to communities. “Policies and programmes are strongest when they reflect and are guided by real voices and lived experiences,” the UNFPA Representative said. “At UNFPA, we are committed to preventing violence against women and girls, ending child marriage, reducing adolescent pregnancy, ending preventable maternal deaths and ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. But sustainable progress requires collective action, and that starts with dialogue.” Bangladesh has made significant progress in advancing gender equality. However, challenges remain as violence against women continues to affect millions, child marriage persists as a reality for almost half of all adolescent girls, mothers still die in pregnancy and birth, and many women and girls still face barriers in exercising full agency over their health and life choices. “Many girls are still discouraged from studying technology and engineering, and too often they face cyber-bullying and online harassment. Initiatives like Alapon Helpline help adolescents to have a safe space to openly share their struggles, talk about mental health, and support each other. When young people feel heard, they find strength and hope to move forward,” said Farhana Sadika, a student at the United International University speaking at the Open Mic event about the challenges girls face in her community. The Open Mic event was held as part of UNFPA Bangladesh’s broader International Women’s Day campaign, which aims to highlight data, personal stories and community voices to drive action on women’s and girls’ rights.

UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh Stefan Liller on Wednesday reaffirmed UNDP’s support for the Government of Bangladesh’s climate and development priorities. He met Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo and discussed areas of ongoing cooperation. UNDP strengthens Bangladesh EC with IT support for post-election capacity building

Seeking an early resolution to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, Bangladesh on Wednesday conveyed to the US that it is difficult for a country like Bangladesh to bear the economic impact of this war if it lasts longer and spreads further. “We have discussed the crisis in the Middle East. I told him (US Assistant Secretary S Paul Kapur) that two of our Bangladeshis have lost lives and seven others have been injured. If this war is prolonged or spreads, this fear may increase further,” Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after his meeting with the US top diplomat. The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, who arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night from New Delhi, is now paying a two-day visit. Briefing the reporters in the afternoon, Dr Rahman said they conveyed to the US official that they should try to resolve this conflict - this problem through dialogue as soon as possible by giving diplomacy opportunity. As the recent escalation in the Middle East came up during the exchange, the Foreign Minister stressed the need for exercising restraint by all parties and urged early resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomatic means in order to minimise loss of life, prevent further destabilisation in the region and beyond. During the briefing, a journalist asked whether the US Assistant Secretary of State had said anything about when the war would end. In response, the Foreign Minister said, "It is not even completely in their hands when the war will end. No one can say that." When the journalist commented in response that "they have started it," Dr Rahman said, "No, no - that cannot be a question." Responding to another question, Dr Rahman said defence matters were not discussed during the meeting and that neither GSOMIA nor ACSA was mentioned. “There has been no discussion with me regarding defence cooperation,” he said, adding that while the Indo-Pacific issue came up but it was not discussed in detail. The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh will review its overall Indo-Pacific Policy and reiterated that the country will not enter into any military alliance. During the discussion, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, including economic engagements, based on mutual respect and shared interests. Dr Rahman emphasised the ‘Bangladesh First’ policy of the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He further highlighted Bangladesh’s approach to maintaining robust relations with regional and global partners to promote national interests and shared prosperity. Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur expressed happiness at the peaceful, free and festive general election in Bangladesh and felicitated the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the assumption of its responsibilities. He also mentioned the congratulatory letter of US President Donald Trump addressed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahamn, and expressed the confidence that the ties between two countries will grow stronger in the coming days. Paul Kapur also underscored the importance of implementing the provisions of the agreement on Reciprocal Trade to foster greater bilateral trade and investment. The Foreign Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to policy continuity, particularly in the economic domain. The two sides also discussed the Rohingya issue. Defence issues not discussed in meeting with US assistant secretary: FM Khalilur The Foreign Minister thanked the United States for its continued humanitarian support for the Rohingyas and sought sustained international support for a durable solution to the crisis. Both sides expressed optimism that regular high-level engagements and institutional dialogues would continue to deepen Bangladesh-US relations in the years ahead. Prior to this meeting, Paul Kapur had a brief meeting with the State Minister, Shama Obaed Islam.