United News of Bangladesh

With the Rohingya crisis entering its eighth year amid a severe funding shortfall, advocacy groups on Thursday urged the international community and aid agencies to prioritise low-cost, locally-led operations in the Rohingya response. The event, titled “Reset Rohingya Response: Engage Local NGOs for Low-Cost Management”, was organised by COAST Foundation and the Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum ahead of the UN Rohingya Conference scheduled for September 30 in New York. Moderated by Mustafa Kamal Akanda and chaired by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST Foundation, the groups unveiled a study on the localisation of aid in the Rohingya response. The study, presented by Shahinur Islam, highlighted a sharp disparity in funding flows and project approvals between international, national, and local NGOs, according to a press release. According to the findings, from June to August 2025, 63 projects were approved in Rohingya camps. Of these, international NGOs secured a 44.4% approval rate, national NGOs 50.8%, while local NGOs received only 4.8%. In terms of funding, INGOs received 63.6%, national NGOs 33.9%, and local NGOs just 2.5%—despite being among the largest implementers. The study also pointed out that management costs of UN agencies and INGOs consume around 70% of funds, leaving only 30% for actual programs, while local NGOs can deliver operations at significantly lower costs. Speakers criticised the World Bank’s loan support to Bangladesh for Rohingya management, saying it contradicts humanitarian principles and burdens the country. Bangladesh has already increased its own funding by 263% this year compared to 2024, much of it financed by loans, the study noted. Rezaul Karim said the aid system needs a reset, where UN agencies and INGOs play monitoring and technical support roles while local NGOs take the lead in designing and implementing low-cost operations. Other speakers warned that the Rohingya population now outnumbers the host community in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas, raising tensions and security concerns. They stressed that Rohingyas should not be confined to dependency but rather engaged as human resources, with opportunities to connect to global markets and sustainable livelihoods. The organisers urged world leaders, ahead of the UN Rohingya Conference, to ensure a shift toward locally-led, cost-effective responses that uphold humanitarian principles while easing the financial burden on Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said the trials of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cronies are a top priority of his government. During a meeting with the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, on the sidelines of the UNGA, Prof Yunus stressed that the trials were being conducted in accordance with international legal standards. “Despite facing trial, she continues to make incendiary and destabilising remarks,” Prof Yunus said, adding that the interim government has sought her extradition to face justice. The Finnish President met Chief Adviser Prof Yunus on Wednesday. Bangladesh-Italy’s economic ties in focus as Meloni mulls Dhaka visit

Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin and Pakistan Prime Minister’s Trade Coordinator Ihsaan Afzal Khan on Thursday discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment, strengthen economic cooperation, and take commercial relations to a new level. The meeting was held at the adviser’s office in the Secretariat in the morning. Adviser Bashir Uddin said Bangladesh’s cement industry heavily relies on imported raw materials particularly limestone and construction-grade stone. Bangladesh needs around 50 million tons of stone annually and for this greater engagement between businesses of both countries is necessary, he said. He said improving labour productivity, utility proportion, logistics excellence, cost of finance and market access can help expand the limited trade basket between the two countries. This will reduce the trade deficit and strengthen people-to-people ties, he added. Pakistan seeks stronger economic ties as PM invites Prof Yunus He stressed the need for creating greater opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters in the Pakistani market. Pakistan PM’s Trade Coordinator Ihsaan Afzal emphasised the importance of removing existing barriers to trade and expanding facilities. “We want to significantly increase trade volume by strengthening direct contacts between business communities, exchanging trade missions and reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers,” he said. Mahbubur Rahman, secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Ayesha Akter, additional secretary (FTA) were, among others present at the meeting.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has invited Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to visit Pakistan before the conclusion of the interim government's tenure as the two leaders held a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters on Wednesday. They discussed ways to deepen economic relations between the two countries by expanding the existing bilateral trade, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the meeting. During their meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including Bangladesh's upcoming general elections, reforms introduced by the interim government, the recent devastating floods in Pakistan, trade and investment, and prospects for regional cooperation, Alam said. Prof Yunus shared that Bangladesh is on course to hold its general election in February and expressed hope that the major political reforms proposed by 11 national commissions would lead to meaningful political transformation. He noted that talks between the National Consensus Commission and political parties are in their final stages, and parties are expected to sign a ‘July Charter’ encompassing key constitutional and political reforms. "These reforms are aimed at preventing the rise of another autocrat in Bangladesh," Prof Yunus said. With SAARC largely inactive in recent years, the two leaders also discussed alternative avenues to enhance regional cooperation. The Chief Adviser Yunus expressed his profound sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences over the recent floods in Pakistan, which claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people. Prime Minister Sharif attributed the increasing frequency and intensity of such disasters to the worsening impacts of climate change. In August this year, Bangladesh and Pakistan reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of their peoples. Bangladesh emphasised the importance of deepening collaborative bilateral relations founded on mutual respect, understanding and shared interests. National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Principal Secretary Siraj Uddin Miah, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed were present at the meeting.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has introduced six political leaders accompanying him at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with top US companies, encouraging them to expand investments in Bangladesh. “It was a big meeting. Prof Yunus spoke and called upon US companies to invest more in Bangladesh,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the event. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad were also present. The US-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC) hosted the roundtable discussion titled “US-Bangladesh Executive Business Roundtable: Advancing Reform, Resilience and Growth” at a New York hotel on Wednesday. Senior executives from leading US companies and major investors in Bangladesh, including MetLife, Chevron and Excelerate Energy, attended the meeting. UN budget cuts, shrinking ODA to be 'counterproductive' for Bangladesh: Prof Yunus Bangladesh’s political delegation included BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Jamaat leader Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, and NCP First Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr Tasnim Jara. Prof Yunus introduced the political leaders with the US businesses and highlighted that a new political government will be formed through a fair election scheduled for February next year. “Prof Yunus introduced them with the US business community so that they could get to know each other better,” said Press Secretary Alam. Talking to reporters, Jamaat leader Taher praised the initiative and said US investors expressed encouragement. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, and leaders of the USBBC were present.

President of the Club de Madrid and former President of Slovenia, Danilo Türk, met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in New York on Wednesday. During their meeting at his hotel, Danilo Türk extended an invitation to Prof Yunus to become a member of the organisation, said  Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.  He commended Prof Yunus’ pioneering work in microcredit,  mentioning its global impact. “We would be honoured to have you participate in our events. We would also greatly appreciate your insights into the democratic transformation currently underway in Bangladesh," he said. Referring to the recent July Uprising in Bangladesh, Türk remarked that the movement had astonished the world and emphasised the importance for global leaders to better understand such transformations. Bangladesh, Italy eye expanded economic ties, PM Meloni likely to visit Dhaka in Dec  He also expressed his support for the interim government led by Prof Yunus and its efforts to foster inclusive democratic practices. The Chief Adviser welcomed the invitation, expressing his willingness to share Bangladesh’s ongoing experiences with democratic reform.  “We are still walking through the jungle, figuring out how to lead the country toward a democratic transformation. Our focus remains firmly on this path,” he said.  Club de Madrid is the world’s largest forum of democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers, who leverage their individual and collective leadership experience and global reach to strengthen inclusive democratic practice and improve the well-being of people around the world.  SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.   

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit Bangladesh in December this year as the two countries eye an expanded economic cooperation with stronger collaboration to ensure safe migration. She proposed the establishment of an Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum aimed at promoting Italian investment in Bangladesh. The Italian Prime Minister met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday afternoon (NY time) and discussed issues of mutual interest. "The Italian Prime Minister expects that she will come to Bangladesh in December," Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the meeting. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad were present at the briefing. The leaders also discussed a wide range of issues, including the upcoming general election in Bangladesh, migration challenges, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and a possible visit by Prime Minister Meloni to Bangladesh in December. Prof Yunus introduces political leaders with top US companies The meeting between the Chief Adviser and Italian Prime Minister provided an opportunity to discuss the "safe migration" issues to combat irregular migration flows. "There was a discussion with the Italian Prime Minister about safe migration. You know, a lot of people are lured from Bangladesh (human trafficking). In many cases it turns into a tragedy. As you have seen, many Bangladeshis have died in the Mediterranean," Alam said, adding that there was a discussion about how to ensure safe migration. During the meeting, Prime Minister Meloni expressed support for the ongoing democratic transition process and reform programme in Bangladesh, underscoring Italy’s intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic sphere. The two leaders also had an in-depth exchange of views on migration issues, agreeing on the importance of intensifying efforts to fight irregular immigration and combat criminal human trafficking networks. They particularly discussed ways to establish closer cooperation on returns and to support legal migration flows, for example through vocational training programmes in Bangladesh for workers specialised in sectors that are in demand from Italy’s productive system. Commerce adviser, Pakistan PM’s trade coordinator discuss boosting bilateral ties Prime Minister Meloni expressed Italy’s willingness to engage constructively with Dhaka to ensure safe migration pathways that would benefit both nations. She underscored the need for stronger measures to combat human trafficking, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of migrants in the Mediterranean. In response, Chief Adviser Yunus stated that the Bangladeshi interim government has already adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward human trafficking and has implemented several initiatives to ensure safer migration routes for Bangladeshi citizens. "We need more global efforts to prevent human smuggling," Professor Yunus emphasised. When Prof Yunus highlighted the importance of further expanding trade relations between the two countries, the Italian Prime Minister proposed for Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum. Prof Yunus welcomed the initiative, noting that while the two countries share longstanding ties, there remains significant potential to expand trade and investment cooperation. Investment opportunities in Bangladesh better than ever: Commerce Adviser Addressing the political transition in Bangladesh, Professor Yunus said the country is on track to hold general elections in February, after which he plans to return to his previous role. Prime Minister Meloni commended Prof Yunus’ leadership over the past 14 months as the head of the interim government and assured him that Italy would advocate within the European Union to support Bangladesh in holding a free and fair election. The two leaders also exchanged views on the ongoing Rohingya crisis. Prof Yunus urged increased international support for over one million Rohingya refugees currently sheltered in Bangladesh. In response, Prime Minister Meloni pledged to send a high-level delegation to next week’s international conference on the crisis at UN headquarters. Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed were also present at the meeting. The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, visited New York from September 23 to 24 to attend the 80th United Nations General Assembly. Prof Yunus calls for smarter financing to close $4 trillion SDG gap with five priorities She had bilateral meetings with the President of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, and with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña Palacios, and later held a press point. In May this year, Bangladesh and Italy agreed to enhance cooperation in combating transnational organised crimes, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling as well as terrorism and cybercrime. The two countries emphasised the importance of capacity-building, continued information and intelligence sharing and joint training to strengthen security frameworks in both nations. Both sides agreed to make arrangements towards establishing a 'joint committee' to promote cooperation in preventing and combating transnational organised crime and capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement agencies, according to a joint statement issued after the official visit of Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi to Bangladesh on May 5-6.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus continued to engage extensively with global leaders with diverse meetings during the ongping 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), highlighting Bangladesh’s vision for inclusive growth, sustainable development and global solidarity. During his engagements on the sidelines of the UNGA, the urgency of addressing pressing global challenges, from climate change to poverty alleviation, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing funding gaps, while also bringing the Rohingya situation to the global attention and advocating for human dignity and peace came up in a big way. Prof Yunus calls for smarter financing to close $4 trillion SDG gap with five priorities His presence at the UNGA offered an opportunity to amplify Bangladesh’s voice on the international stage and to emphasise the importance of collaborative, people-centered solutions, officials told UNB. He attended the opening segment of an event titled 'First Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy: Implementing Commitments on Financing the Sustainable Development Goals' in UN headquarters on Wednesday. Prof Yunus held a meeting with President of Finland Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of the UNGA, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. The Chief Adviser also held a seperate meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a hotel in New York same day. UN budget cuts, shrinking ODA to be 'counterproductive' for Bangladesh: Prof Yunus Prof Yunus attended a high-level working session titled 'Transforming Primary Healthcare-Bangladesh’s Blueprint' on the sidelines. The Chief Adviser invited US President Donald Trump to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time during a reception hosted by the President in New York on Tuesday. Prof Yunus attended the event at the invitation of President Trump, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The Chief Adviser also met UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the reception hosted by US president Donald Trump.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin has said that the investment environment in Bangladesh is better than ever, as the country actively seeks to attract greater foreign investment, including from Italy. He made the remarks during a meeting with Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandre on Wednesday afternoon at the Secretariat. The meeting focused on expanding bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Italy. Expressing interest in further strengthening Bangladesh's trade relations with Italy, he said Bangladesh is now more prepared than ever to welcome foreign investors, and the Ministry of Commerce will provide full support to Italian businesses looking to invest here.” In response, Ambassador Alessandre reaffirmed Italy’s interest in deepening economic ties. He expressed Italy’s willingness to encourage investment and technology transfer, particularly in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, where cooperation could be mutually beneficial. Md. Abdur Rahim Khan, additional secretary (Export) of the Ministry of Commerce, and Federico Zamparelli, deputy head of Mission at the Italian Embassy, were also present.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said the United Nations (UN) budget cuts or shrinking Official Development Assistance (ODA) would be 'counterproductive' for countries like Bangladesh that hosts 1.3 million Rohingyas amid several other crises like battling climate shocks and economic turbulence. "Global support must expand," he said while speaking at the "First Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy: Implementing Commitments on Financing the Sustainable Development Goals" on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The UN General Assembly will hold the high-level plenary meeting to address the crisis facing Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will attend the meeting on September 30 that aims to sustain international attention, review the situation on the ground, and propose a concrete, time-bound plan for a sustainable resolution, including efforts to ensure the voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced communities. The Chief Adviser, who is attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has recently placed seven-point proposals, seeking collective efforts for charting a practical roadmap for the speedy, safe, dignified, voluntary and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their homes in Rakhine as soon as possible. Prof Yunus calls for smarter financing to close $4 trillion SDG gap with five priorities "We must not be held hostage to mere rhetoric. The time for action is now," he said while speaking at the ‘Stakeholders Dialogue’ in Cox’s Bazar. Prof Yunus said it is not only the responsibility of Bangladesh but also of the international community to share the burden of the Rohingya crisis, to reflect on the possible solutions and to play an active role in implementing them. He said the Rohingya issue and its sustainable resolution must be kept alive on the global agenda as they need support until they return home.