United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Saturday said the government is yet to receive detailed official information from the Saudi authorities regarding the recent execution of a Bangladeshi man and a woman, stressing that such unfortunate news is not expected. “We have yet to receive any official detailed information from the Saudi government,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noting that Bangladesh sent a letter to the Saudi government requesting detailed information. Earlier, Saudi media reported that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia executed the two Bangladeshis after they were convicted of committing “indecent acts” inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca. Quoting the Saudi Interior Ministry, Gulf News reported that the court imposed the sentences because of the seriousness of the offence, the violation of the sanctity of the mosque, and the circumstances in which the acts were committed. The Saudi authorities identified the two Bangladeshis as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar. “On October 14, we learned that two Bangladeshi nationals had been sentenced to death under Saudi Arabian law and that the executions had been carried out,” the State Minister said, noting that neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Bangladesh Mission in Saudi Arabia had been informed in advance. “We wanted to know whatever we needed to know. Let the reply come. I will be able to let you know,” Shama said. Upon learning of the incident, the Bangladesh Mission notified the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, sharing all the information it had gathered from Saudi authorities. The State Minister said the government sent a formal inquiry to ascertain the full details, including the identities of the individuals, their backgrounds in Bangladesh, and when they had originally arrived in Saudi Arabia for work. Based on past experience, the State Minister said Saudi Arabia has its own legal framework and that anyone found guilty of a grave offence is punished in accordance with the country’s laws. “The execution of two Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia serves as a major lesson for us,” she said. Shama Obaid said the repatriation of the bodies could be arranged once a response to the letter is received from Saudi Arabia.

Algerian Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdelouahab Saidani on Saturday paid tribute to the victims of the October 17, 1961 Paris massacre, highlighting its significance in Algeria’s struggle for independence and calling for the preservation of historical memory in the pursuit of justice and human rights. Commemorating the Paris massacre of October 17, 1961, offers a poignant reflection on the shared struggles and profound solidarity uniting the brotherly peoples of Algeria and Bangladesh through their historic fights for freedom and human dignity, he said. “Both nations confronted severe colonial and systematic oppression, propelled by an unyielding commitment to justice and independence. This interwoven history establishes a lasting affinity and mutual esteem between the two friendly countries,” said the Ambassador. He paid tribute to the victims of the massacre and expressing hope that their legacy would continue to inspire both countries towards a peaceful and prosperous future. Speaking at a commemoration at the Embassy marking the 65th anniversary of the massacre, the Ambassador said the day is observed in Algeria as National Emigration Day to honour the martyrs and recognise the sacrifices of Algerians living abroad during the country’s liberation struggle. He said Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune instituted the annual observance in 2021, including a minute of silence across Algeria and at the country’s diplomatic missions abroad to pay tribute to the victims. This year’s commemorative slogan, “From Deep Memory to Future Horizons,” reflects the importance of transforming historical trauma into a foundation for justice, dignity and human rights, Saidani said. On October 17, 1961, French police violently suppressed peaceful demonstrations by Algerians protesting a discriminatory curfew imposed specifically on the Algerian population in Paris. The crackdown left numerous people dead and thousands injured, with some victims reportedly tortured or drowned in the River Seine, according to the ambassador’s speech. Reflecting on the pursuit of historical justice, Saidani said sustained efforts by activists, historians and human rights organisations had helped bring greater international attention to the massacre and pushed France towards acknowledging the gravity of the events. He described October 17, 1961, as a defining moment in Algeria’s national consciousness, representing resilience, sacrifice and dignity. The Ambassador also highlighted the continuing contribution of the Algerian diaspora to national development, pointing to the establishment of the High Council of the National Scientific Community Abroad as a mechanism to mobilise the expertise of Algerians living overseas.

Bangladesh and Azerbaijan on Friday discussed advancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries in diverse sectors, including cooperation in air connectivity, skilled migration and energy supply. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir had a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku and discussed the areas of cooperation. M Amanul Haq, Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkiye with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Azerbaijan accompanied the State Minister to the meeting, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A 15-member Bangladeshi cultural troupe has arrived in Islamabad to showcase the country’s cultural heritage through performances at two prominent Pakistani cultural institutions. The troupe comprises musicians, dance and vocal artists, and representatives of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Renowned Bangladeshi painter and printmaker Md Abdus Satter is also part of the delegation. During the visit, the artists will perform at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and Lok Virsa, according to a press release issued by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka on Friday. The visit has been arranged in line with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. A Cultural Exchange Programme was signed during the visit to Bangladesh by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar last year, the release said.

Nobel Laureate and Grameen Bank founder Dr Muhammad Yunus received the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award in Washington, DC, on Thursday, drawing a standing ovation from an audience of around 400 people. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton presented the award to Yunus at a ceremony held at Gaston Hall of Georgetown University, attended by ambassadors from around 25 countries, entrepreneurs, university teachers and researchers. The audience rose to their feet and applauded for an extended period when Yunus’s name was announced as the award recipient. Reema Nanavaty, director of India’s Self-Employed Women’s Association, and fashion designer Tory Burch, founder of the Tory Burch Foundation, were also awarded the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award. Muna Sukhtian, board chair of Jordan’s Microfund for Women, received the inaugural Georgetown Ambassadors Award. The awards were presented by Clinton and Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security to recognise leadership in advancing women’s rights and promoting a more peaceful and secure world. Speaking at the ceremony, Yunus reflected on his five decades of work in poverty alleviation through microcredit and outlined his vision of encouraging young people to become entrepreneurs rather than job seekers. He said he hoped to launch Grameen University by the end of this year to help transform the education system and foster creativity and entrepreneurship among students. “We are not job seekers; we are employers,” Yunus said, describing the principle he wants young people to embrace. He criticised the existing education system for primarily preparing students to seek jobs instead of helping them become creative entrepreneurs. Yunus also highlighted the role of social business in addressing social problems, explaining that such enterprises could generate profits or surpluses but should reinvest them in solving social challenges rather than accumulating personal wealth. Reflecting on his work with Grameen Bank, Yunus said microcredit had helped transform millions of families, particularly by enabling women to become self-reliant, financially secure and empowered. He said the children of Grameen Bank borrowers are now growing up and entering the workforce, making entrepreneurship an increasingly important focus. Hillary Clinton said she had witnessed Grameen Bank’s work firsthand and praised its contribution to helping women become self-reliant, secure and empowered. She also acknowledged Yunus’s role in spreading the approach internationally.

Indian Acting High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pawankumar Badhe on Thursday highlighted the role of music in strengthening cultural ties between the two countries. He underscored the power of music to transcend borders, connect people and foster mutual understanding between the two countries. The Acting High Commissioner made the remarks while speaking at a cultural programme held in the evening. The High Commission of India and the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC), under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), organised the “Musical Evening with the Legends” to celebrate the timeless legacy of Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has signed agreements with 12 organisations to protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainable livelihoods across Bangladesh. The Memoranda of Agreement (MoAs) were signed in Dhaka on Thursday under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), which supports locally driven environmental solutions through civil society and community-based organisations. The 12 projects, selected through a competitive evaluation process, will be implemented in ecologically significant areas, including the Sundarbans, Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf coastal region, Saint Martin’s Island, Hakaluki Haor, Tanguar Haor, the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Barind region. The initiatives will focus on mangrove and wetland restoration, sea turtle conservation, elephant habitat protection, community-based waste management, sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient livelihoods. Several projects will also introduce circular economy solutions, renewable energy, resource-efficient aquaculture and alternative income-generating opportunities for communities dependent on natural resources. The programme aims to strengthen community participation, encourage local innovation and create sustainable economic opportunities, particularly for women, young people and vulnerable groups. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Sonali Dayaratne, acting resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, stressed the importance of ensuring lasting environmental and social benefits from the partnerships. “The real success of these partnerships will be measured by the improvements they bring to ecosystems and to the lives of people who depend on them. Our focus must be on delivering results that communities can sustain long after the projects are completed,” she said. Earlier, welcoming the participating organisations, Sarder M. Asaduzzaman, assistant resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, highlighted community ownership and collective responsibility in addressing environmental challenges. “These agreements mark the beginning of partnerships built on shared responsibility, local innovation and a commitment to sustainable development. By empowering communities to address environmental challenges through locally driven solutions, we can strengthen resilience and create lasting opportunities for women, young people and vulnerable groups,” he said. The agreements define the roles and responsibilities of UNDP and the partner organisations, providing a framework for project implementation, innovation, accountability and sustainable outcomes. The programme also seeks to expand successful community-led solutions and ensure long-term environmental benefits. Working with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, UNDP continues to link biodiversity conservation and climate resilience with inclusive economic development through the GEF Small Grants Programme. The 12 new partnerships are expected to support national environmental priorities while improving livelihoods and protecting vulnerable ecosystems across Bangladesh.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday highlighted the importance of climate justice and accountability, the loss and damage fund, a just transition and green growth for Bangladesh ahead of COP31. Speaking at a meeting on Bangladesh’s priorities and preparations for the climate conference, she called for implementing the National Action Plan and ensuring the predictable, adequate and transparent disbursement of global climate finance in line with national priorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the meeting with climate experts and other stakeholders, with the state minister in the chair. Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md Saimum Parvez, prominent climate experts of Bangladesh, representatives of research organisations, national and international organisations, and senior foreign ministry officials attended the meeting.

The member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) have underlined the need for cooperation to counter “radicalisation and violent extremism” conducive to terrorism, and specifically the financing of terrorism. They emphasised the promotion of internationally agreed standards on countering the financing of terrorism and anti-money laundering, consistent with domestic laws and applicable international law. The countries also called for preventing the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and tackling terrorist recruitment. The issues were discussed at the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ meeting held in New Delhi this week to deliberate on regional cooperation in security and disaster management sectors, said the BIMSTEC headquarters on Thursday. The meeting was preceded by a meeting of home secretaries/senior officials of the home ministries of the BIMSTEC member states on October 12. The countries acknowledged the complex and evolving security challenges, and agreed to respond appropriately, in the spirit of cooperation and shared responsibility. The meeting appreciated India’s initiative to host the inaugural meeting of the BIMSTEC home ministers, which marked a milestone in the development of institutional architecture for forging security cooperation under BIMSTEC. It recognised that the Bay of Bengal region is a common security space with shared security challenges, which have transnational and regional dimensions, such as terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, drug-trafficking, organised crime, cybercrimes, money laundering and financing of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, human-trafficking, smuggling of arms, piracy, poaching, illegal human migration and misuse of cyberspace for terrorist activities. Official Spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Wednesday said, “Several areas have been identified, and it is our expectation that with this inaugural dialogue, there will be a stronger security cooperation among all members.” The meeting reflected and reaffirmed the resolve and commitment of the BIMSTEC member states to deepen and enhance regional security and disaster management cooperation to realise the goals of a connected, secure, resilient, developed and prosperous BIMSTEC region, said the BIMSTEC headquarters.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Thursday reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to advance regional cooperation among the Asian countries. While speaking at the plenary session of the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, the State Minister conveyed Bangladesh's full support to CICA's transformation into a full-fledged international regional organization with a clear legal status, a strengthened Secretariat, predictable financing and effective decision-making. In his statement, he put forward three concrete proposals on implementation of results-oriented sectoral projects backed by formal follow-up mechanisms to build meaningful partnerships among member states, organizing more in-person events to foster wider stakeholder participation and strengthening exchanges among member states' ICT institutions and develop confidence-building measures for a safe, open and trusted digital space to address emerging challenges in ICT and AI. This year, the 7th CICA summit is taking place under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan with a theme, "A Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalization, and Sustainable Growth in Asia," reflects priorities of vital importance to the peoples of Asia.