United News of Bangladesh

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh on Sunday said Canada remains a ‘longstanding and steadfast partner’ in the Rohingya crisis response and accounted CAD 10 million contributions to provide clean, safe and sustainable cooking fuel for the Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar. “This climate-responsive humanitarian contribution will reduce deforestation and carbon emissions in an environmentally fragile district that will benefit refugees, Bangladeshis, and the wider population,” said the High Commissioner. He said it will also lower the risks to vulnerable people, especially women, girls, and children, including those that stem from gathering firewood. “Canada is pleased to provide this $10 million contribution to UNHCR and IOM to strengthen environmental protection that benefits us all, as well as advance the wellbeing of vulnerable Rohingya refugees,” said the High Commissioner. The funding to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and IOM, the International Organization for Migration, will ensure the continued provision of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the Rohingya, essential for them to cook, while helping to preserve the fragile environment surrounding the camps and improve safety, health and dignity for refugees, particularly women and children, said the UN agency. Cox’s Bazar, one of the most climate-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh, faces recurrent flooding, landslides, cyclones, fires and environmental degradation. Since the start of LPG distribution to Rohingya refugees, the programme has reduced firewood use by 80% among refugee households, preventing an estimated 407,000t of CO₂ emissions every year. “Nine years on, Rohingya refugees are navigating one of the world’s most difficult displacement situations – protracted crisis compounded by climate vulnerability,” said UNHCR Deputy Representative in Bangladesh Juliette Murekeyisoni. “Canada’s support comes at a crucial time, and I am deeply grateful for it. Sustained international solidarity remains critical to ensuring that refugees can live in dignity while we work toward conditions for their voluntary, safe, and dignified return.” Chief of Mission for IOM in Bangladesh Giuseppe Loprete said safe, reliable energy is fundamental to the well-being of families who have experienced immense hardship for the past nine years. “We thank Canada for their generous support, which ensures that refugees can avoid dangerous firewood collection and live in healthier environments, while also protecting local forests and biodiversity.” The provision of LPG has been central to the response since 2018. Studies have shown it has dramatically improved indoor air quality in the densely populated camps and lowered household spending on cooking fuel. The UN refugee agency said Canada’s contribution will support LPG access for some 243,500 refugee households and help conserve up to 10,700 hectares of protected forest in Cox’s Bazar. It also strengthens community resilience by stabilizing slopes, reducing landslide risks, and lowering human wildlife conflict around ecologically sensitive areas.

Marking a glorious chapter in human history, a bust of Yuri Gagarin was unveiled on Sunday to commemorate 65 years since the first human spaceflight. Speaking at the event, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin said Gagarin was not merely a cosmonaut but a symbol of humanity. He emphasised that science knows no borders and that space exploration represents a shared dream of humankind. Yuri Gagarin had become the first human to conquer space. President of the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh Mia Sattar described the sculpture as more than a memorial, calling it a symbol of the future. He said bilateral ties between the two countries are steadily strengthening, particularly in the areas of science, education, and cultural cooperation. He said such initiatives would inspire young people and encourage the next generation to engage in space research. Alexandra Khlevnoy, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, and Munira Sultana, Director General of the National Museum of Science and Technology, among others, were present. The speakers highlighted a shared message - friendship, cooperation, and progress. The programme, jointly organised by the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh, the Russian Association for International Cooperation, and the Russian House, carried special significance, they said. The event also pointed to a promising possibility that one day, a Bangladeshi astronaut may travel to space, which sparked renewed hope among attendees. The bust now stands as more than a work of art, said the organisers, adding that it conveys a message - to advance scientific inquiry, to break boundaries, and to dream. Perhaps one day, from this very museum courtyard, a young mind will begin its journey toward the stars, the organizers said. A distinct atmosphere prevailed at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Agargaon, Dhaka, as the venue buzzed with a festive spirit as students, researchers, and diplomats gathered in large numbers.

A delegation of diplomats from six countries recently visited the Meghna Industrial Economic Zone (MIEZ) in Narayanganj to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh. The delegation included Haris bin Othman, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam; Mohd Shuhada Othman, High Commissioner of Malaysia; Kyaw Soe Moe, Ambassador of Myanmar; Nina Cainglet, Ambassador of the Philippines; Mitchel Lee, Chargé d’Affaires of Singapore; and Suphawadee Wongsawasdi, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission of Thailand. Australia lauds contributions of Bangladeshi community to Australian society, economy Mostafa Kamal, Chairman and Managing Director of Meghna Group of Industries (MGI) along with Taif Bin Yousuf, Senior Executive Director of MGI, welcomed the delegation and thanked them for visiting MGI’s factories and MIEZ’s investor facilities, said a media release on Saturday. During the visit, the diplomats expressed interest in the zones and satisfaction with the facilities MGI offers to global investors. They said they would share with other business communities in their countries to explore investment opportunities in MGI’s economic zones. “Our economic zones are fully operational and built to international standards. We have the infrastructure in place to ensure that foreign investors can move from setup to production without delay, said Mostafa Kamal. He said, “Through MGI’s one-stop service, we provide the clarity and speed global businesses need to succeed here and I am confident these partnerships will continue to drive Bangladesh’s industrial growth.” Currently, MGI has three private economic zones available for investors: Meghna Economic Zone, Meghna Industrial Economic Zone, and Comilla Economic Zone. The group has developed its economic zones as modern, investor-friendly hubs with comprehensive facilities and security systems. Since their inception, companies from the USA, Australia, Germany, Japan, Norway, India, China, Switzerland, and Belgium have already established factories in these zones.

Expressing optimism over strengthening the Dhaka-Delhi relations, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has said there will be a visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the dates have not yet been finalised.    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already invited Prime Minister Tarique, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman to pay a visit to India at a convenient time, an official told UNB, referring to Prime Minister Modi’s letter to his Bangladesh Prime Minister. “A warm welcome awaits you in India,” Modi said in his recent letter handed over to PM Tarique by Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha Om Birla who represented the government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government of Bangladesh. “There will be a visit. We have not yet done the dates. Of course, in the run-up to the visit, we will have activities,” Dr Khalilur told the Indian media during his visit to Mauritius.  Talking to World Is One News in Mauritius, the Foreign Minister said leaders of the two countries had not only exchanged letters but had also spoken.  He said both the leaders wanted to advance the relationship and it is a relationship that is consequential for both the countries. The Foreign Minister returned home on Saturday after visiting India and Mauritius, a senior official told UNB. “The visit and the meetings that I had (in India) were very productive. We talked about how to carry it forward. So, I am hopeful in this objective that we will be carrying forward our work in next few weeks and I feel reasonably optimistic,” Dr Khalilur said in Mauritius, adding that both the countries are willing to engage and talk to take the relationship forward.  External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman in New Delhi on April 08. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir was also present at the meeting. The Indian External Affairs Minister reiterated India's desire to engage constructively with the new government and further strengthen bilateral ties. The two sides agreed to explore proposals for deepening the partnership through the relevant bilateral mechanisms. Follow-on official meetings are expected to take place at an early date, said the Indian side, noting that both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. During the visit, Foreign Minister Rahman also met the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has underlined the deep cultural affinity between the two countries  as a source of strength for their relationship. The High Commission of India and IGCC celebrated the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) as the “ICCR Day” on Friday on the IGCC premises in Gulshan, to mark the enduring cultural partnership between Bangladesh and India. Speaking on the occasion, the High Commissioner highlighted the role of ICCR in fostering a vibrant cultural dialogue between the two countries. He described ICCR as the ‘cultural heartbeat’ of Indian diplomacy, fostering cultural dialogues transcending borders. The event included an art camp by ICCR alumni and senior artists of Bangladesh and a special cultural programme with musical, dance and yoga performances by IGCC students and ICCR alumni from Bangladesh. Acclaimed singer and ICCR scholar Priyanka Gope of Dhaka University presented a special performance of Rabindra Sangeet and classical songs. Marking the occasion, the High Commissioner also inaugurated a two-day art camp — “Sampriti” —  hosted by IGCC, which brought together over thirty celebrated artists and ICCR scholars from Bangladesh including luminaries like Farida Zaman, Jamal Ahmed, Md. Eunus, Nissar Hossain and Ranjit Das. The art works created by them during the camp will be displayed publicly at a two-week art exhibition at IGCC scheduled to be inaugurated on April 30, said the High Commission on Saturday. During the event, the High Commissioner also paid heartfelt tributes to senior artist and ICCR scholar from Bangladesh, Tarun Ghosh, who had accepted the invitation to join the art camp Sampriti, but tragically passed away on April 9.

Seeking collective action amid the global energy crisis, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has said there might be a ceasefire, but the energy issue is not going to be resolved within two weeks. "All of us are in trouble, as the current energy challenges are creating disruptions. That will reverberate through the coming years. Even if the energy situation improves, we still face the larger problem of a decline in multilateralism," he said. The Foreign Minister made the remarks while speaking at the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius on Friday. Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, among others, also spoke at the conference. Bangladesh on Wednesday thanked the Indian government for the recent supply of diesel and requested an increased volume of diesel and fertiliser. The Indian side indicated that it would consider the request “readily and favourably.” Dr Khalilur said the larger challenge - the loss of trust and confidence in the global system - will have to be addressed through their own actions. "If we stay strong on our home front, it will be much easier for us to overcome the storms coming from outside," he said. The Foreign Minister said some analysts believe this crisis will have implications much greater than the twin oil shocks of the 1970s. "So, if the effects of the current crisis are going to be larger than the shocks of the 1970s, we can imagine the type of risks we are facing. This is the immediate problem, but perhaps a larger issue is the context in which it is happening," he said. "The kind of orderly world, which was not entirely orderly, but orderly enough for us to believe that the global system would take care of our problems is now coming under very serious pressure," the Foreign Minister said. He said they are witnessing assaults on multilateralism and an increasing prevalence of unilateral actions within global frameworks. "They are no longer helping us effectively in dealing with these issues. So, we face a significant challenge, one that exists within an even larger context. This is a time for collective action because individual countries will not be able to meet these challenges on their own," he said.  

Nepal's Deputy Chief of Mission in Dhaka Lalita Silwal has shed light on the growing economic engagements between Nepal and Bangladesh and emphasised the notable progress made in the areas of trade, connectivity, energy and tourism. The Embassy organized an interaction programme on ‘Enhancing Nepal-Bangladesh Economic Partnership’ Friday evening in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Speaking on the occasion, she also underscored the crucial role of business community in Sylhet in promoting trade and tourism linkages and encouraged them to explore opportunities in Nepal while building meaningful partnerships with their Nepali counterparts. Nepal, Bangladesh foreign ministers meet on sidelines of Indian Ocean Conference

Akbar Hossain, who had been serving as Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in London, has resigned from his position. In a message shared from his verified Facebook account on Friday night, he confirmed the development, noting, “I have resigned from my position as Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in London.” Hossain explained that personal and family reasons have made it difficult for him to continue carrying out his responsibilities. Bangladesh envoy in London Abida Islam withdrawn: Adviser Humaiun "Due to personal and family reasons, it is not possible for me to continue fulfilling my responsibilities there," he said. “This decision is not related to any other matter,” he added. The former BBC journalist was appointed by the interim government in November 2024 on a two-year contractual basis.

Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal held a meeting on Friday with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on the margins of the Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis, Mauritius. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the cordial state of bilateral relations. They deliberated on diverse sectors to further consolidate cooperation and enhance mutual ties. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir was also present at the meeting, an official told UNB. Bangladesh envoy joins Nepal PM’s meeting, emphasises bilateral ties Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur  is now in Port Louis, the capital of the East African country Mauritius, to attend the 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC-2026), which began on Friday.

Australian Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick has highly appreciated the contributions of the Bangladeshi community in Australia to Australian society and the economy. The visiting Australian parliamentary delegation, led by the Speaker, met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the National Parliament House on Thursday. The visit marks the first-ever visit by an Australian Speaker to Bangladesh in the 125-year history of the Australian Parliament, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, the Australian Speaker noted that Australia was among the first few countries to recognize Bangladesh following its independence. Congratulating Bangladesh on holding a recent free, fair, and peaceful election, he emphasised the importance of strengthening parliamentary democracy across the world. State Minister Shama Obaed highlighted the importance of greater participation of women in Parliament. She thanked Australia for continued support for the Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh. Both sides underscored the need for enhanced connectivity, exchanges, and the sharing of experiences between the two parliaments. They stressed on introducing inter parliamentary programs among the parliamentarians of the two countries. They also discussed the possible impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East, particularly in relation to an acute fuel supply crisis. The Australian Parliamentary delegation also met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram in the Parliament. The delegation had a tour of the Parliament Building and observed the Parliament proceedings. They paid tribute to the grave of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and Late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. They also visited the July Memorial Museum and met civil society representatives during the visit.