United News of Bangladesh

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday said Bangladesh and Russia will mark the 55th anniversary in January 2027 with specific agreements, as they discussed the steps that can be taken in the trade, economic, cultural, military, and military-technical spheres. "We have a long-standing history of relations which will mark their 55th anniversary in January 2027," he said.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Monday conveyed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, stressing that they are all in favour of strengthening Dhaka-Moscow relations. "We are all in favour of further strengthening our ties with Russia," he told his Russian counterpart during a bilateral meeting in Moscow. This is his first bilateral visit to Russia, and he is scheduled to return home on Tuesday. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir is accompanying the Foreign Minister. "On both bilateral fronts and in terms of my discharge of responsibilities as the President of the UN General Assembly, I will rely on your help and support," Dr. Khalilur said. The Foreign Minister gratefully acknowledged his Russian counterpart's support, which helped him win the election to the UNGA Presidency for the 81st session. "You are right, we are entering the 81st session against the backdrop of a very complicated world. Forty years ago, I had the privilege of working with you at the UN, and those were simpler, more predictable days," said Dr. Khalilur, noting that he learned a great deal from his Russian counterpart even during those times. He said the "world is not at peace" and that there are serious concerns regarding commitments to development and climate change. "We also see some reversals in the results of the implementation of the SDGs. So, the task of the President of the General Assembly will not be easy," he observed. Dr. Khalilur recalled the events of 1971 and noted that Russia was among the few countries that came forward to help Bangladesh achieve its independence. "Without your very timely intervention, our struggle could have gone in a very different direction," he said. The Foreign Minister said there has been considerable expansion in relations between the two countries in various fields, including trade, education, energy, and defence. "We continue to do that," he said, noting that one of the landmarks of cooperation is the nuclear power plant. "We have just completed the first fuel loading. We hope that it becomes operational soon," said the Foreign Minister.

Bangladesh and Russia on Monday discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in energy, trade and investment, while reviewing the current status and future prospects of bilateral relations. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, during which the two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues, a senior official told UNB. Rooppur nuclear power plant to provide up to 10% of Bangladesh’s total electricity generation: Russia The Foreign Minister is on a three-day visit to Russia at the invitation of his Russian counterpart. Following the bilateral talks, the two Foreign Ministers addressed a joint media briefing. This marks Dr Khalilur’s first visit to Russia in his current capacity. Dr Khalilur arrived in Moscow on Sunday, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir is accompanying the Foreign Minister on the visit. Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Md Nazrul Islam received the delegation at the airport. Ahead of the visit, Russia described the construction of Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant at Rooppur as the flagship project of bilateral cooperation, noting that the facility is expected to generate up to 10 percent of the country’s total electricity once fully operational. The Russian side said the project has laid the foundation for Bangladesh’s nuclear energy sector and contributed to the training of qualified national personnel. The first unit of the plant was commissioned on April 28, while the second unit could also be launched later this year. Highlighting broader energy cooperation, Russia noted that its expertise in conventional energy remains in high demand in Bangladesh. Between 2012 and 2023, Gazprom International Limited, a subsidiary of PJSC Gazprom, drilled and completed turnkey projects for around 20 wells in Bangladeshi gas fields. The Russian side also pointed to opportunities for expanding cooperation in education. The previous meeting between the two foreign ministers took place in September 2023 during Lavrov’s working visit to Dhaka. The current visit also includes meetings with the leadership of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Describing Bangladesh as a longstanding partner in South Asia, Russia recalled that it was among the first countries to recognize Bangladesh’s independence in 1972 and subsequently provided significant political and economic support. Between 1972 and 1974, Soviet naval forces assisted in clearing mines and sunken vessels from Chattogram port and its surrounding waters. According to the Russian side, political dialogue between the two countries has continued steadily, with contacts maintained at various levels, including the highest leadership. Following the resumption of Bangladesh’s Parliament earlier this year, contacts between the legislative bodies of the two countries are also expected. The two countries continue to cooperate closely within the United Nations, its specialized agencies and other multilateral forums. Bilateral trade has consistently exceeded US$2 billion annually in recent years. Russia’s key exports to Bangladesh include industrial equipment, mineral fertilizers and wheat, while Bangladesh exports ready-made garments and seafood to Russia. The Intergovernmental Russian-Bangladesh Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation remains the principal mechanism for advancing bilateral economic ties. The commission has held four meetings to date, with the most recent taking place virtually on March 15, 2023. For the 2025-26 academic year, Russia has allocated 185 scholarships for Bangladeshi students under its federally funded education programme.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday sought Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency’s (TİKA’s) specialised cooperation in implementing educational initiatives for homeless children, alongside building sustainable climate resilience in vulnerable regions. The State Minister had a meeting with the visiting high-level delegation from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) to discuss expanding bilateral development cooperation. The delegation was led by TIKA Vice President Dr Ali Ercan, who is currently on an official visit to Bangladesh from June 7-10. Turkey eyes joint investment in Bangladesh as DCCI hosts trade delegation TİKA has been actively implementing sustainable socioeconomic and humanitarian projects across Bangladesh since 2014.

State Minister for Foreign affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday sought Spain’s support at the United Nations general Assembly (UNGA) on Bangladesh’s LDC graduation. Both sides underscored the importance of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) to enhance bilateral trade. The issues were discussed when Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh Gabriel María Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru paid a courtesy call on the State Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UN CDP) has recommended that Bangladesh’s Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation be postponed until November 24, 2029. This will help Bangladesh to receive preferential trade benefits for three more years, an official told UNB. The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues, underscoring the importance of peace, stability, and enhanced international cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the mutually beneficial partnership, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They discussed avenues for strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, supply chain, railway, sports, culture, education and skills development, migration, people-to-people exchange, and peace and security. Both sides also discussed about holding bilateral consultations and conducting high-level visits to add momentum to the bilateral relations. The Ambassador congratulated Bangladesh on being elected for the Presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the term 2026-2027. The State Minister highlighted the importance of collaborating both in bilateral and multilateral settings and reiterated the need for stronger and sustained international attention and support to resolve the Rohingya crisis.  

Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has said they refuse to look at India through the distorted,  hypersensitive lens of 20th-century geopolitics.  Instead, he said, the Rastriya Swatantra Party wants to shift the entire vocabulary of Nepal-India relations away from geopolitical friction and square it firmly on development and diplomacy. "We look at India with an open heart, clear eyes, and a single transparent agenda: the economic transformation of Nepal," said the Nepalese Foreign Minister in New Delhi on Sunday. He had "productive" bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Dr S. Jaishankar on June 6. The Nepalese Foreign Minister said when they look across the border, they see a rising India, an India that has fundamentally and beautifully redefined itself on the global stage as a dynamic, fast-growing tech and economic powerhouse. "We want to engage with this India of intense aspiration, cutting-edge technology, and relentless execution. In turn, we bring the energy of aspiring Nepal," he said. The Nepalese Foreign Minister said their primary responsibility is to close the gap between old promises made on paper and the physical reality delivered on the ground,  transitioning away from abstract political statements to deliver measurable, life-changing results. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal undertook an official visit to India starting 5th June 2026 at the invitation of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. This was the first visit at the level of Foreign Minister between the two countries since the new government assumed office in Nepal in March 2026. Nepal is a priority partner of India under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the visit reinforced the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two close and friendly neighbours. It provided an opportunity to exchange views on enhancing the bilateral partnership to fulfill the aspirations of peoples from both countries, and has imparted fresh vigour to our efforts towards this objective. The two Ministers reviewed the full spectrum of India-Nepal bilateral relations covering development cooperation, connectivity, trade and transit, energy, and people-to-people ties, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. They also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. The Ministers expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors and welcomed the recent initiatives to enhance co-operation in areas of innovation and startups; digital and financial technology; and training and capacity building. They agreed to intensify efforts towards further enhancing the multifaceted India-Nepal partnership to take it to new heights. Both Ministers welcomed the completion of internal processes for entry into force of the India-Nepal Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement in Criminal Matters (MLAA). This agreement will benefit the people of India and Nepal by providing an institutional legal framework to enhance the effectiveness of investigation, prosecution and judicial proceedings relating to cross-border crimes. Following the bilateral talks: (i)External Affairs Minister of India handed over to Foreign Minister of Nepal, 72 health facilities and 12 cultural heritage sector projects, completed under India’s post-2015 ‘Earthquake Reconstruction Assistance’ to Nepal. (ii)The Ministers jointly launched the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) linkage between Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and National Payments Interface (NPI) of Nepal for facilitating cross-border personal remittances between India and Nepal. (iii)The Ministers witnessed the signing of MoU between Digital India Bhashini and Kathmandu University for co-creating National Digital Infrastructure for “Voice First” Language Translation platform; The discussions were held in a warm, friendly and constructive atmosphere, reflecting the unique and special ties between the two countries. During the visit, Foreign Minister Khanal also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Russia has described the construction of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant in Rooppur as the flagship project of the bilateral partnership, noting that once fully operational, the nuclear power plant will provide up to 10% of the country's total electricity generation. Based on Russian technology, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, the foundation for Bangladesh's nuclear industry has been laid, and qualified national personnel have been trained for it. The first power unit was commissioned on April 28, and the second unit could also be launched this year. “Russian expertise in conventional energy is in high demand in Bangladesh. Between 2012 and 2023, Gazprom International Limited, a subsidiary of PJSC Gazprom, drilled and completed turnkey projects for approximately 20 wells in Bangladeshi gas fields,”said the Russian side. There are also prospects for expanding cooperation in education. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, who is paying a three-day visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, reached Moscow on Sunday, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB. Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir is accompanying the Foreign Minister. Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Md Nazrul Islam and representatives of the Russian government received the Foreign Minister and the Adviser at the airport. The previous contact between the heads of the two countries' foreign ministries took place in September 2023 during Sergey Lavrov's working visit to Dhaka. This is Dr Khalilur Rahman's first visit to Russia in his current capacity. He represents the new Government of Bangladesh, formed following the parliamentary elections in February this year. During the talks scheduled for today (June 8), the parties will discuss the status and prospects of Russian-Bangladesh cooperation and exchange views on current issues on the international and regional agendas, said the Russian Foreign Ministry. The visit also includes a meeting between the distinguished guest and the leadership of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Dhaka is a long-standing partner of Moscow in South Asia. In 1972, our country was one of the first to recognize Bangladesh's independence and provided it with significant political and economic support, said the Russian side. Between 1972 and 1974, Soviet naval forces cleared mines from Bangladesh's main port of Chittagong and its surrounding waters of sunken ships. The political dialogue between our countries is developing steadily, regardless of the current political situation. Contacts are maintained, including at the highest level, said the Russian government. In connection with the resumption of the Bangladesh Parliament in February this year, contacts are planned between the highest legislative bodies. Constructive cooperation has been established within the UN, its specialized agencies, and other multilateral structures. For several years in a row, bilateral trade has consistently exceeded $2 billion. Russia's main exports are industrial equipment, mineral fertilizers, and wheat. "Our country primarily imports ready-made garments and seafood from Bangladesh. The Intergovernmental Russian-Bangladesh Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation is the primary mechanism for coordinating joint efforts to strengthen business ties," said the Russian side. To date, it has held four meetings, the most recent of which was held on March 15, 2023, via videoconference. For the 2025-2026 academic year, 185 scholarships have been allocated to Bangladeshi citizens to study in Russia, financed by the federal budget.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen on Sunday joined the closing ceremony of "The Art of the Deal: American Excellence in Negotiation Skills" at Hotel Six Seasons, Gulshan, Dhaka. He recognised a new generation of Bangladeshi leaders equipped with communication, leadership, and negotiation skills, said U.S. Mission Spokesperson Poornima Rai. Supported by a U.S. English Language Specialist, Joanne Munisteri, the four-day program trained 60 alumni of the Access English program from Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. The curriculum incorporated principles from President Trump's The Art of the Deal alongside broader American methodologies in negotiation and leadership development.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are set to hold talks in Moscow on Monday, focusing on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues as the two countries seek to further strengthen their ‘longstanding and mutually beneficial’ partnership, officials said. The discussions are expected to cover cooperation in key sectors, including energy, trade and investment, science and technology, education, skilled migration, and people-to-people exchanges, a diplomatic source told UNB. On September 7-8, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov paid a working visit to Bangladesh and discussed the state of bilateral relations and their development prospects. Bangladesh and Russia share interest in continuing their political dialogue and intensifying mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur left for Russia on Sunday morning. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir is accompanying the Foreign Minister, a senior official at the Ministry said. Although the Russian side had announced the visit much earlier, Dhaka officially confirmed it only after his departure. This is the Foreign Minister’s first official visit since being elected President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced the three-day official visit by the Bangladesh Foreign Minister. “At the invitation of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Khalilur Rahman will pay an official visit to Russia on June 7-9,” she said. The spokesperson said the two ministers will hold talks on current bilateral and international issues on June 8. “A special emphasis will be placed on our interaction at the UN, as Khalilur Rahman has been elected President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly,” the Russian side said. According to the Russian Embassy in Dhaka, the programme also includes meetings with top officials from the Federation Council, Rosatom State Corporation, and a number of other organisations. The Foreign Minister is scheduled to return home on June 9.

The bodies of two Bangladeshi expatriates killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon last month are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka early Sunday, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut. The deceased were identified as Shafiqul Islam, son of Afsar Ali and Ajea Khatun of Valuka Chandpur in Satkhira Sadar upazila, and Md Nahidul Islam Nahid, son of Md Abdul Kader and Nurnahar Khatun of Kadakati in Ashashuni upazila of Satkhira district. The two expatriates were killed in an Israeli drone strike in the Jibdin area of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon on May 11. According to the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, the bodies departed Beirut Airport on June 5 at 6:25 pm local time aboard Qatar Airways flight QR-0427 and are scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 2:30 am on June 7 via flight QR-0642. The bodies had been preserved at the morgue of Rafik Hariri Hospital in Beirut. The embassy said it completed all necessary formalities, including obtaining certified police reports, securing permission for the repatriation of the bodies and processing other related documentation. The ritual washing and shrouding of the deceased were also completed before their departure from Lebanon, embassy officials said. Family members of the deceased have already been informed and contacted regarding the arrival and handover of the bodies. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam is expected to receive the bodies at the airport upon their arrival.