United News of Bangladesh

Pranay Verma, current Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union. The Ministry of External Affairs of India announced his appointment on Friday, noting that he will be accredited as Ambassador of India to the European Union. Pranay Verma is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Diplomatic sources told UNB that High Commissioner Verma is likely to continue here for one or two months as the new Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh has yet to be announced. Pranay Verma, who served as Ambassador of India to Vietnam, arrived in Dhaka on September 21, 2022. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1994 and has held diplomatic assignments in Hong Kong, San Francisco, Beijing, Kathmandu and Washington. Pranay Verma has served as the joint secretary of the East Asia Division at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi since June 2017. Earlier, he also served as the joint secretary for external relations at the Department of Atomic Energy looking after India's nuclear diplomacy. Pranay Verma has a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Before joining the Indian Foreign Service, he started his professional career at India's steel manufacturing company, Tata Steel. He also holds a Master's degree in the Chinese language from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, California, US.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is now in Port Louis, the capital of the East African country Mauritius, to attend the 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC-2026), which begins on Friday. It will bring together leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the Indian Ocean Region to deliberate on shared responsibilities, cooperative frameworks, and the future of regional governance. On the sidelines, Dr Khalilur is expected to hold discussions with counterparts from other participating nations, a senior official told UNB, noting that this is also an opportunity to seek support for Bangladesh’s candidacy for the presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (2026–27). Prime Minister’s Adviser Humaiun Kobir is also accompanying the Foreign Minister. The India Foundation, in association with the Government of Mauritius and the Ministry of External Affairs of India, is organizing the 9th Indian Ocean Conference. The Foreign Minister had a number of meetings in New Delhi on Wednesday and left for Mauritius on Thursday morning. Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is also attending the 9th Indian Ocean Conference. He will deliver the keynote address at the event. The visit, India said, underscores its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and commitment to the Global South. The Indian Ocean Conference was started in 2016 by the India Foundation in association with think tanks and institutions from the region, with participation from 30 countries. In recent years, the conference has emerged as a flagship forum for countries to discuss and deliberate on issues of mutual interest. Nepalese Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal will also address the 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) at the invitation of Jaishankar.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Major General Mohammad Asadullah Minhazul Alam (Bangladesh) as Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Major General Alam succeeds Major General Erdenebat Batsuuri (Mongolia), to whom the Secretary-General expressed his deep appreciation for his dedication and service, according to the UN. Alam brings to the position over 30 years of leadership and command experience in the Bangladesh Army.  Most recently, he joined Army Training and Doctrine Command as the General Officer Commanding. Before that, he served as General Officer Commanding the 10 Infantry Division and Area Commander Cox’s Bazar (2024-2026), and as Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College (2024). Earlier in his career, Major General Alam held multiple command and staff appointments across infantry formations, including leadership roles in counterterrorism, internal security, disaster response, and intelligence‑based operations.  He also served in United Nations peacekeeping missions, as Sector Commander in United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2020-2021) and Military Observer in United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) (1999-2000). Major General Alam holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Relations from Jahangirnagar University (Bangladesh), a Master of Science (MSc) in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. (United States), a master’s degree in Defense Studies from the National University of Bangladesh, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Royal University of Dhaka (Bangladesh).

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has extended an invitation to Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tarique Rahman to visit Malaysia while the Southeast Asian country reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors. The invitation was extended when Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury called on the Malaysian Prime Minister at his office in Putrajaya on Thursday. The Minister was accompanied by Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury. On labour cooperation, the Malaysian Prime Minister said his country remains committed to safeguarding the welfare of the hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi workers in the country, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. At the same time, he underscored the need to reduce recruitment costs for foreign workers, and urged the government of Bangladesh to consider measures to lower these costs in the interest of workers’ wellbeing. Anwar Ibrahim extended warm felicitations to his Bangladesh counterpart Tarique on his election as the Prime Minister of the Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and India have exchanged views on common security challenges and discussed ways to further strengthen their defence ties as an important component of their overall bilateral relationship. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma called on Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. A.K.M Shamsul Islam and exchanged views on 'common security challenges' and agreed to work together to promote peace, security and stability in the region. The meeting was held on Wednesday, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Thursday. They underlined the importance of sustained development of India-Bangladesh ties, and affirmed the unshakeable bond between the two countries rooted in their shared sacrifices during Bangladesh’s  Liberation War of 1971. The two sides reviewed their wide ranging security and defence cooperation, including bilateral consultation mechanisms, training exchanges, capacity building initiatives and  exchanges between the defence institutes of the two countries.  The High Commissioner conveyed India’s willingness to closely work with the Government of Bangladesh to enhance their multifaceted cooperation based on mutual interest and mutual benefit.  

Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Md Shafiqur Rahman joined a joint meeting with Prime Minister of Nepal Balendra Shah, along with other ambassadors based in Kathmandu. Taking the floor during the interaction, the Bangladesh envoy extended warm greetings and felicitations to the Prime Minister on the assumption of his responsibilities, on behalf of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the people of Bangladesh. He emphasised the excellent relationship between Bangladesh and Nepal, premised on mutual respect, trust, and shared collaboration in various areas, stemming from common cultural and societal values, beliefs, and long-standing civilisational links marked by strong people-to-people contact.

Tamara Hasan Abed, Managing Director of BRAC Enterprises, has been appointed as a Commissioner to the Future of Development Cooperation Coalition, a prestigious, high-level global initiative convening leaders from government, finance, business, and civil society to reimagine development cooperation in a rapidly changing world. Co-hosted by the African Center for Economic Transformation and the Center for Global Development, the coalition aims to develop practical, forward-looking solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges, including economic transformation, climate change, technological disruption, and inclusive growth, a media statement said on Wednesday. The coalition is co-chaired by Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President of Nigeria, and Arancha González Laya, Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain. In her role as Managing Director of BRAC Enterprises, Tamara Hasan Abed has been instrumental in advancing market-based solutions to development challenges. Under her leadership, BRAC’s social enterprises have significantly expanded their reach and impact, creating sustainable livelihoods while supporting communities across Bangladesh. Her appointment as a commissioner reflects her recognised leadership in social enterprise and her commitment to integrating business innovation with development outcomes, while also underscoring Bangladesh’s growing influence in shaping global development discourse. Drawing on BRAC’s extensive experience in implementing large-scale, community-driven solutions, she is expected to contribute valuable insights from the Global South to the Coalition’s work. Over the next year, commissioners will work collaboratively to align development partnerships with country priorities, mobilise both public and private resources to support sustainable growth, strengthen policy and regulatory systems, and harness innovation and technology to enhance development impact. They will hold their inaugural in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., during the forthcoming World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings. The coalition brings together internationally recognised leaders with expertise in climate finance, financial inclusion, governance reform, digital innovation, and private sector development.    

An Australian parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick, MP, will engage in a series of meetings that will begin in Dhaka on Thursday to strengthen parliament-to-parliament engagement between Australia and Bangladesh. The two countries will exchange views on shared priorities, including clean and green development, civics and democracy, youth engagement, gender equality, women’s political participation and leadership, financial transparency and parliamentary oversight. The delegation will meet with Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, parliamentarians, and relevant ministers. Bangladesh, Australia discuss possibility of LNG supply The visit reflects Australia’s long-standing partnership with Bangladesh and its support for inclusive, transparent, and resilient democratic institutions as a foundation for sustainable development and regional stability, said the Australian High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday. The visit is part of an international three-country tour to Malaysia, Bangladesh and Türkiye ahead of 152nd IPU Assembly. It underscores Australia’s commitment to supporting democratic governance, strong parliamentary institutions, and inclusive political participation. Discussions in Dhaka will focus on parliamentary systems and practices, democratic norms and accountability, and opportunities to support Bangladesh’s ongoing democratic transition following the national elections of February 2026, which Australia supported through the UN Development Programme-led BALLOT project.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Wednesday reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to continued collaboration with Italy and other European partners in ensuring effective migration governance. She underscored the importance of expanding opportunities for regular migration channels to ensure mutual benefit. Migration and mobility issues were featured prominently when Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro met her at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister underscored Italy’s role as an important partner within the European Union and sought Italy’s support for Bangladesh’s candidature for the Presidency of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Ambassador apprised her of Italy’s position on reform agenda of UN Security Council, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He congratulated the State Minister on her recent assumption of office and conveyed Italy’s confidence in further advancing the longstanding and amicable bilateral relations. Both sides noted with satisfaction the continued growth of Bangladesh-Italy relations, anchored in strong people-to-people ties. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to broadening engagement across priority sectors, including trade and investment, leather and ceramic industries, manufacturing, skills development, women’s empowerment, education, sports and cultural exchanges, private sector engagements and defence cooperation. The Ambassador commended Bangladesh’s measures to curb irregular migration and acknowledged the positive contributions of the Bangladeshi community to Italian society. Both sides emphasized the importance of promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration, including through enhanced cooperation on legal pathways, skills partnerships, and labour mobility aligned with market needs.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday urged immediate and decisive global action to end the war in the Middle East saying now, more than ever, the world must come together with courage, compassion, and a clear sense of purpose. “Global leaders must step forward to protect this world and take firm and effective measures to uphold international law," he said in a statement issued by Yunus Centre. Diplomatic dialogue must take precedence over military escalation, and multilateral cooperation must be strengthened, Prof Yunus said. "A world already scarred by war is being pushed toward deeper instability by this continued violence," he said. Prof Yunus said they are facing a profound test of humanity where civilians, especially children, are being killed; homes, hospitals, and educational institutions are being destroyed; and basic human needs are being neglected. "This is not merely a regional crisis; it is a moral challenge for all humankind," he said. The war is increasing uncertainty and instability across the globe, Prof Yunus said. He said the heaviest burden is being borne by poorer nations, while vulnerable and marginalised communities face ever greater hardship.