United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has received the “lowest” tariff rate under a new US decision imposing levies on imports from 60 trading partners over the use of forced labour, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. While Bangladesh faces the 10% tariff, several major global apparel manufacturing competitors, specifically China, Vietnam and Thailand, will face the maximum 12.5% tariff rate. The government of Bangladesh said it remains fully committed to upholding international labour standards and will continue to engage closely with international partners to ensure the robust growth, compliance, and sustainability of Bangladesh's critical export sectors. The US government on Thursday announced the imposition of tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on 60 economies representing 86 countries globally. This measure comes after investigations conducted by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding the use of forced labour. Effective Friday, the tariff ranges from a low of 10% to a high of 12.5%. This replaces the temporary 10% global tariff previously implemented under Section 122. For Bangladesh, the tariff will be 10% on all imports originating from the country.   It will be applied in addition to existing Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff rates. Bangladesh is among the 17 out of 86 countries globally that have been placed under the lower 10% tariff tier. Therefore, it retains Bangladesh's competitive standing in the US apparel and export market, said the ministry. This distinct differential reinforces Bangladesh's ongoing comparative advantage in the US market relative to its high-tariff competitors, it said. Additionally, the USTR is considering establishing a three-year Tariff-Rate Quota (TRQ) for four countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia, to waive Section 301 tariffs on goods made from US cotton and textile inputs. This, when implemented, will also provide Bangladesh further competitive advantage and promote Bangladesh’s exports to the US market.

Government representatives, development partners, youth leaders, community members and implementing partners came together on Thursday to celebrate the successful completion of the Child, Not Bride (CNB) Project, marking four years of collective efforts to prevent child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) and advance girls' rights in Kurigram. Organised by Plan International Bangladesh, the closing event showcased the project’s achievements, recognised the contributions of youths and local stakeholders, and created a platform to reflect on lessons learned and the way forward. Funded by the Norwegian State Broadcast Corporation (NRK Telethon) and implemented by Plan International Bangladesh in partnership with RDRS Bangladesh and MJSKS, the four-year initiative has worked across 76 unions and municipalities in nine upazilas of Kurigram, empowering girls and young people through youth leadership, economic empowerment and improved access to reproductive health and rights. Speaking at the event as the Chief Guest Md. Nazir Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram, said: “The achievements celebrated today demonstrate what is possible when government institutions, communities, development partners and youths work together towards a common goal. As we celebrate the successes of the Child, Not Bride Project, we must also renew our commitment to ensuring every girl can grow up free from child marriage, complete her education and realise her full potential.” The event was chaired by Mathilda Mendes, Project Manager, Plan International Bangladesh. Throughout the event, participants reflected on how the project has strengthened community action to prevent child marriage while creating opportunities for adolescents and youths to realise their rights and reach their full potential. Over the course of the project, 76 youth organisations were strengthened, with 73 organisations successfully registered under the Department of Youth Development, creating sustainable platforms for youths to lead advocacy and community action against child marriage. Through youth-led initiatives supported by Flex Funds, youths implemented community awareness campaigns and actively contributed to Child Marriage Prevention Committees across Kurigram. The project also supported 3,675 young people through 152 Youth Economic Empowerment groups, helping them build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen their financial independence. In collaboration with the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB), the project introduced competency standards and market-oriented digital skills training in emerging ICT occupations, preparing youths for the future of work. In addition, the project established 58 Adolescent Safe Spaces, enabling thousands of adolescents to access information on reproductive health and rights, gender equality, leadership and life skills. Through peer education and the Girls Out Loud digital platform, girls and young people gained the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health, education and future. The event concluded with a renewed commitment from government representatives, implementing partners, youth organisations and community leaders to build on the project’s achievements and continue working together to advance girls' rights, gender equality and meaningful youth participation across Kurigram.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a global visa restriction policy that targets individuals responsible for, or complicit in, cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime, such as those involved in cyberscams, and sextortion.  Immediate family members of individuals engaged in such illicit activities may also be subjected to visa restrictions. "Today, I am announcing a new global visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act," said the US President. The Trump Administration is deploying every tool at our disposal - sanctions, prosecutions, asset seizures, extradition requests, and international law enforcement cooperation - to dismantle criminal scam networks and impose costs on those who enable them.  "By restricting visa issuance to those who are responsible for or complicit in these criminal enterprises, we are sending a clear message: The United States will go after those who prey on our citizens," said President Trump. As President Trump made clear in E.O. 14390 on Combatting Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens, his administration is taking action to counter an unprecedented threat from online investment scams.  Often orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organizations, scammers have defrauded U.S. citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024 alone while fueling corruption, money laundering, and human trafficking, according to a press statement. American children also have been specifically targeted by offenders operating overseas for sextortion scams, devastating families and futures.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday commended the efforts made by the Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SABCCI) and reaffirmed her ministry's continued support in strengthening Bangladesh-Saudi economic relations. She highlighted opportunities for expanding cooperation on trade, investment and skilled workforce, emphasising technical and vocational skills development. Shama Obaed also underscored the importance of women's economic empowerment and promoting Bangladesh's creative industries, handicrafts, and diversified jute products in the Saudi market. The issues were discussed when a delegation of the SABCCI, led by its President Ashraful Haq Chowdhury, paid a courtesy call on her at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, the delegation briefed the state minister on SABCCI's initiatives to enhance bilateral trade, investment, and business cooperation, including plans for trade promotion activities, international exhibitions, and a Bangladesh-Saudi Investment Forum in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They also sought the ministry's support in facilitating coordination with the relevant Saudi authorities. The delegation reaffirmed its commitment to advancing bilateral economic cooperation.  

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath met on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila, Philippines, on Thursday. On the sidelines of the Forum, Jaishankar also met with Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and discussed avenues for further strengthening bilateral cooperation as well as regional developments of mutual interest. The interaction reflects the continued engagement among the BIMSTEC Member States at the ministerial level to strengthen regional cooperation and partnerships among the BIMSTEC Member States, said the BIMSTEC headquarters in Dhaka.

Bangladesh and the Maldives on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence diplomacy, military cooperation, institutional collaboration, and strategic partnership. The understanding came when Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Maldives Dr Md Nazmul Islam paid a courtesy call on Maldives' Minister of Defence and National Service Hassan Rasheed, according to the Bangladesh mission. Both sides discussed expanding cooperation in professional military education and training, defence institutional exchanges, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime security, and capacity building. They also expressed optimism about enhancing future defence collaboration to further contribute to peace, stability, and security in the Indian Ocean region.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Thursday called upon ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) participants to collectively support efforts to create conducive conditions in Myanmar to facilitate repatriation of more than 1.3 million Rohingyas to their homeland in Rakhine State. "The Rohingyas are not stateless people by circumstance - they are stateless by design. It is a political failure demanding a political solution,” he said while addressing the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial meeting in Manila, Philippines. Referring to his upcoming Presidency of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Foreign Minister stressed that global challenges must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Adviser to the Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir was also present at the meeting Bangladesh is hosting the Rohingyas for nearly a decade that placed significant social, economic, environmental and security burdens on Bangladesh, a senior official told UNB. The official said Bangladesh keeps urging the international community and key regional actors to intensify diplomatic efforts and engagement to facilitate the early repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar. Dr Khalilur called on all states to exercise maximum restraint in addressing maritime disputes. Addressing climate change challenges, the Foreign Minister noted that Bangladesh remains committed to promoting enhanced regional cooperation in disaster preparedness and early warning systems. Highlighting the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, he proposed exploring a regional technology governance framework that reflects the region's unique geopolitical and developmental realities. The Foreign Minister held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Singapore, Sri Lanka and Australia and the Vice President of European Commission. In the meetings, wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues including trade and investment, tourism, humanitarian assistance, reciprocal support in multilateral fora were discussed. The ministers congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur on his election as President of 81st UN General Assembly and assured him of their cooperation during his tenure. Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur and exchanged pleasantries on the margin of ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting. "Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Jaishankar greeted each other in Manila on the margin of ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting," said an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his meeting with Dr Khalilur, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore and Bangladesh share a longstanding friendship anchored in mutual respect, shared interests, and strong people-to-people ties. “We discussed how we can deepen bilateral cooperation and work together in ASEAN to create new opportunities for growth and development in Bangladesh and across the wider Indian Ocean region,” he said after the meeting. Dr Khalilur met with Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath. The two Ministers discussed strengthening Bangladesh-Sri Lanka bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, enhancing regional cooperation, and reaffirming their shared commitment to multilateralism, as well as peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. Dr Khalilur on Wednesday held a series of high-level bilateral engagements with his counterparts from the US, Russia, China and Pakistan on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Manila, highlighting Bangladesh’s continued efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations with key international partners. During the meetings, the Foreign Minister exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including economic cooperation, trade and investment opportunities, and matters of shared concern on the global stage, a diplomatic source told UNB. Dr Khalilur is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ meeting and the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of Southeast Asia.

Bangladesh on Thursday expressed optimism that the upcoming visit of US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor to Bangladesh will help strengthen relations between Bangladesh and the United States, with new areas of cooperation. "The relationship between Bangladesh and the US has always been good, and that relationship is getting stronger under the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday, hoping that the visit will bring a new dimension to relations between the two countries. Sergio Gor is likely to arrive in Dhaka on July 30 on a three-day visit, a diplomatic source told UNB, noting that he will try to understand Bangladesh's foreign policy priorities. He will meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and exchange views with political party leaders, professionals, and representatives of civil society. "We believe that any high-level US visit will further deepen the relations between Bangladesh and the US. We hope that our multidimensional relations will move forward through this visit," she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister hoped that issues of increasing cooperation in various areas, including trade, economic diplomacy, and people-to-people contacts, will come up for discussion. Sergio Gor currently serves as US Ambassador to India. Additionally, President Donald J. Trump appointed Ambassador Gor as the Special Envoy to South and Central Asia. Earlier, Ambassador Gor was Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House. Under his leadership as Director, thousands of political appointees across the entire federal government were hired in record time. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio received Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila. Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir and Sergio Gor were present during the meeting. Both sides discussed further enhancing Bangladesh-US bilateral relations. Secretary Rubio congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur on his victory in the election for the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister extended an invitation to the US Secretary of State to visit Bangladesh.  

India, which is going to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the important event that will focus on global cooperation, trade, and sustainable development. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the invitation letter from the Indian side and forwarded it to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Responding to a question, the State Minister said Bangladesh, as a democratic state with a democratically elected government, wants to see peace and stability in the region. “This is our position, and we want peace and stability to be maintained in our region,” she said. The State Minister said they expect India, as a large democratic state with a democratic government, will look into its people’s issues and will move towards a solution. India's BRICS chairship is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach articulated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit. The 17th BRICS Summit was held on July 6-7, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance." BRICS member countries are Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE, while partner countries are Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The BRICS agenda has expanded considerably from its initial focus on economic issues of mutual concern and is structured around three core pillars - political and security; economy and finance; and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. BRICS cooperation continues to broaden its scope across a wide range of global issues, including the fight against terrorism, climate change, food and energy security, the international economic and financial situation, telecommunications, agriculture, labour and employment, international financial architecture, trade, and the WTO. Responding to another question, Shama Obaed said the Foreign Ministry does not yet have any specific information about the phone call between President Mohammed Shahabuddin and convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a recent foreign visit. However, if any information comes, the government will definitely investigate the matter, she said. There is speculation that President Shahabuddin may resign before August 5, citing physical illness as the reason. Asked about the international acceptance of Bangladeshi passports and visa complications in various countries, Shama Obaed said there has been no downgrading of Bangladeshi passports. “We have formed the government only four and a half months ago. There were visa-related problems even before that," she said. Shama Obaed said visas are closed for Bangladeshi workers in some countries, especially the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has held several meetings with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare to resolve this issue. Many Bangladeshis try to go abroad through illegal means instead of legal channels, using fake documents obtained through brokers, and the government is dealing with these problems seriously. The government is in regular contact with the relevant countries to resolve the visa-related problems of Bangladeshis in various countries.  

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and exchanged pleasantries on the margin of ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting meeting in Manila, Philippines. "Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Jaishankar greeted each other in Manila on the margin of ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting," said an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Jaishankar also met Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath of Sri Lanka during the ARF meeting in Manila, Philippines.