United News of Bangladesh

Strongly condemning the harassment of former Interim Government Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus at John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York, the United States, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said on Tuesday that Bangladesh would raise the matter strongly with the US government to ensure that necessary action is taken by law enforcement agencies. “This kind of harassment, whether against him or any citizen of the country, is totally unacceptable. The government of Bangladesh will take it up very strongly (with the US govt),” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Noting that only criminals could engage in such acts, Kobir said the government had no reason to take the incident lightly and strongly condemned it. He said those involved should be held accountable. “We will have to hunt them down,” Kobir said, adding that the government would take a very strong position against any kind of harassment of any Bangladeshi citizen. Earlier, in a statement, the government of Bangladesh strongly condemned the harassment of Prof Yunus at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. “It appears that a group of perpetrators suspected to be linked with the suspended terror political outfit, Bangladesh Awami League, were behind this harassment committed against Nobel Peace laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, a highly respected personality in the international community,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The Ministry instructed Bangladesh’s mission in the United States to raise the matter with local law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators and take appropriate action against them. Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the government would take the necessary measures over the harassment of Prof Yunus. Any attempt by Awami League leaders or activists living abroad to engage in such acts would not go unchallenged, he said at a press briefing on the progress of various government activities at the Secretariat. Dr Yunus is currently in the United States, where an attempt was made to harass him at an airport, he said, adding that the incident was believed to be linked to Dr Yunus taking responsibility for running the state after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country.

Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan vowed to strengthen bilateral relations, expand economic cooperation and deepen coordination on regional and international issues at the second round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Bishkek on Tuesday. Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam and Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Tursunkulov led their respective delegations at the consultations. Bangladesh Ambassador to Uzbekistan Dr M. Monirul Islam was also part of the Bangladesh delegation. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the foreign service academies of the two countries and another MoU on the 2026-2027 programme of action between their foreign ministries to promote mutually beneficial and practical cooperation. They also agreed to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan in 2027, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, the two delegations reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations, including trade and investment, education and scholarships, employment opportunities and labour mobility, business-to-business contacts, parliamentary friendship, high-level visits, information technology and technology transfer, culture, people-to-people contacts and visa facilitation. They also emphasised expanding cooperation within regional and international organisations, including the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), for the mutual benefit of the two countries.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Tuesday expressed Bangladesh’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in the face of recent attacks. She conveyed condolences over the loss of lives, and called for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy. Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah bin Zafer Abiyah, who paid a courtesy call on her at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thanked Bangladesh for its solidarity and support. She sought Saudi Arabia’s assistance in expediting the repatriation of the mortal remains of two Bangladeshi nationals and expressed appreciation for the care provided to injured Bangladeshis, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh has lost two nationals in the incidents over the past two days, while at least 24 other Bangladeshis are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the country. Several of them are in intensive care units (ICUs). The State Minister on Monday said Bangladesh stood in solidarity with the Saudi government and people and wanted an immediate end to the attacks. Responding to a question about the security of Makkah and Madinah, she said the issue carried both diplomatic and emotional significance for Muslims around the world. She said Bangladesh, where the majority of the population is Muslim, would not remain unmoved if the two holy cities face any threat, adding that the country would extend a helping hand in such a situation.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaium Kobir on Tuesday requested Ambassador of Algeria to Bangladesh Abdelouahab Saidani to enhance collaboration in the field of energy to ensure long term energy security of Bangladesh. The Ambassador met the State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and responded to enhance collaboration in the fields of energy, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer, shipbuilding, maritime shipping lines and high level visits to further deepen the existing relations between the two countries. Both sides discussed avenues to strengthen cooperation in the area of trade, investment, pharmaceutical, agriculture, shipbuilding, and people to people contact etc. The Ambassador congratulated him on assuming the office of the State Minister for Foreign Affairs and both sides discussed views on strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Algeria. The State Minister reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and growing cooperation between Bangladesh and Algeria. The State Minister emphasised the importance of collaboration in the field of fertilizer to ensure food security of Bangladesh. He underscored the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts and stressed the need for high-level visits to further deepen the partnership between the two brotherly countries.

Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma on Tuesday expressed interest in strengthening the strategic partnership over the next 50 years. He paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and highlighted visit of a maritime trade mission and prospective visits on textiles and water issues. Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel also attended the meeting. Bangladesh highlighted possible cooperation in shipbuilding, semiconductors and continued support for the apparel industry among other issues. They expressed interest in deepening the economic partnership through enhanced trade and investment, particularly in shipbuilding, maritime infrastructure, textiles, water management, semiconductors and agricultural supply chains, including cold-chain development. Both dignitaries noted that new governments had taken office in both the countries in February 2026, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday urged Algeria to enhance energy cooperation with Bangladesh to help ensure the country’s long-term energy security. She made the call when Algerian Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdelouahab Saidani met her at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, both sides discussed a wide range of issues in the field of trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, climate change, sports, culture, people-to-people contact, etc. The meeting reaffirmed the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and Algeria based on mutual respect, fraternal solidarity, and shared aspiration for development.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh has urged Bangladeshi nationals living in Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant, comply with local laws and follow instructions issued by the Saudi authorities amid the ongoing situation in the Middle East. In an emergency notice issued on Monday, it advised Bangladeshis to avoid risky and crowded places and to prioritise their personal safety amid the evolving situation. The embassy also warned that recording, exchanging or publishing information, photographs or videos related to the ongoing situation in the Middle East on social media is a punishable offence under Saudi law. It urged Bangladeshi nationals to respect Saudi laws and refrain from posting such photographs, videos or sensitive information on social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and X. The embassy also advised them not to store such photographs, videos or sensitive information on their mobile phones or share them with others. The notice provided several hotline numbers for Bangladeshis seeking assistance in emergencies. The toll-free numbers are 8001000125 for labour-related matters, 8001000126 for passport-related services and 8001000124 for the embassy’s diplomatic wing. For matters related to deaths, the hotline number is +966570212180. The embassy also shared its verified Facebook page for updates and information: https://www.facebook.com/bdembassyriyadh

Thai business leaders discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment between Thailand and Bangladesh with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in Bangkok on Monday. A delegation from the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, led by Chairman Dr Poj Aramwattananont, met the minister to explore cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, agro-processing, halal food, tourism, healthcare and manufacturing, as well as greater access for Bangladeshi products to the Thai market. Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Prof Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, PM’s Special Assistant on Investment and Capital Market Affairs Tanvir Shahriar Ghani, Finance Secretary Dr Khairuzzaman Mozumder, Economic Relations Division Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue Ahsan Habib and Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Andalib Elias were present, according to a release issued by the Bangladesh mission in Bangkok.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday said the regional cooperation remained an important element of Bangladesh's foreign policy, stressing that differences among countries should not prevent them from pursuing areas of common interest. Bangladesh wants to promote regional peace and stability by expanding trade and economic cooperation, strengthening connectivity, enhancing energy cooperation and addressing transnational challenges through collective action, she said at a seminar in the capital. Asked about the current situation in India, the State Minister said Bangladesh has no assessment or evaluation to offer at the moment, describing the matter as an internal issue of India. The State Minister laid particular emphasis on revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and said SAARC could serve as an important platform for dialogue, cooperation and shared development in South Asia. Alongside SAARC, Bangladesh is working to deepen practical cooperation through the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), she added. The State Minister said their regional diplomacy is guided by clear objective - strengthen mutual trust, and ensure that institutions deliver tangible benefits for the people. “In this regard, we attach particular importance to revitalising SAARC as a platform for dialogue, cooperation and shared development in South Asia,” she said. The State Minister said economic diplomacy is the central pillar of Bangladesh’s foreign policy, stressing the need to translate diplomatic engagements into tangible economic opportunities for people. “Economic diplomacy is the central pillar of our foreign policy. We are determined to ensure that our diplomatic relations translate into tangible economic opportunities for our people through expanded trade, wider investment, access to new markets and stronger international economic partnerships,” she said. Shama said Bangladesh is pursuing an independent and pragmatic foreign policy guided by national interests, strategic autonomy and the goal of ensuring economic prosperity for its people. She outlined the government’s foreign policy priorities, including regional cooperation, investment promotion, migration diplomacy, climate justice, multilateralism and the resolution of the protracted Rohingya crisis. Shama said Bangladesh wants to engage with countries across the world on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests, without compromising its sovereign decision-making. “This is the essence of strategic autonomy - the ability to engage independently, assess opportunities on their merits and make sovereign decisions in accordance with our national priorities,” she said. Shama said Bangladesh is seeking to expand partnerships with countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, alongside its traditional partners, including the United States, the European Union, China and Russia. She said the government wants to explore new avenues of cooperation, particularly in investment, energy, food security, infrastructure, technology, security and skills development. Migration diplomacy and workers' welfare Shama said Bangladesh is pursuing proactive migration diplomacy through a whole-of-government approach to ensure safe, orderly and dignified migration. The government is working to expand legitimate overseas employment opportunities while protecting the rights, welfare and interests of Bangladeshi migrant workers, she said. Shama stressed that stronger international partnerships were necessary to create more employment opportunities and improve the protection of workers abroad. Multilateralism and global engagement The State Minister said multilateralism remained a cornerstone of Bangladesh's foreign policy, describing the United Nations system as an essential platform for countries, large and small, to engage on an equal footing, address shared challenges and advance common interests. On the Rohingya crisis, Shama said Bangladesh has demonstrated humanitarian responsibility by providing shelter to more than one million displaced Rohingyas who fled Myanmar. She reiterated that the crisis originated in Myanmar and that a sustainable solution must be found there, with the safe, voluntary and dignified return of the displaced people to their homeland. Shama said Bangladesh would continue working with the United Nations, regional partners and the wider international community to intensify efforts towards resolving the crisis. She stressed the need for an effective roadmap for the sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas, an end to violence against civilians, predictable humanitarian assistance, justice and accountability, and stronger international cooperation to combat transnational crimes. Shama said the prolonged displacement is placing a significant burden on Bangladesh and host communities, adding that the ultimate objective should be to end the crisis rather than merely manage its consequences. Shama said Bangladesh's foreign policy would focus on strengthening cooperation through bilateral and multilateral platforms and pursuing balanced, confident and effective diplomacy. She said the success of the country's foreign policy should be measured not simply by the scale of its international engagements but by their contribution to national prosperity. “Our government is committed to translating diplomatic engagement into measurable national gains, partnerships into prosperity and our international relations into greater opportunities for our people,” she said. Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the seminar titled “Foreign Policy of Bangladesh: Navigating Pathways in a Shifting World” at the BIISS auditorium. BIISS Director General Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman began the session with welcome remarks and chaired it. Four papers were presented by BIISS researchers Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, Dr. Sufia Khanom, Research Director, ASM Tarek Hassan Semul, Research Fellow, and Ayesha Binte Towhid, Research Fellow. The speakers explored the importance of advancing a national interest-driven foreign policy responsive to emerging geopolitical realities while safeguarding national sovereignty and strategic autonomy. Particular emphasis was placed on aligning foreign policy with contemporary defence and security priorities to address emerging challenges and preserve regional stability. The programme examined ways to prioritise Bangladesh’s economic interests within an increasingly uncertain multilateral system, notably amidst the rapid growth of AI, with a view to strengthening economic resilience and expanding international cooperation. Significance of upholding ideological commitments and principled values in shaping a consistent credible foreign policy was underscored. Discussions stressed on the need of building a balanced, pragmatic, and forward-looking foreign policy framework that would advance Bangladesh’s national interests while reinforcing its role as a responsible actor in the global arena. Senior officials from different ministries of Bangladesh, foreign diplomatic missions, media, businesspeople, teachers and students from various universities, researchers, representatives from various think tanks were present.

European Union (EU) Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner on Monday met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and presented the EU’s “Eastern Corridor Initiative” that aims at combating irregular migration to the EU by engaging with countries of origin, transit and all stakeholders. Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh Michael Miller was also present at the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions covered cooperation on migration management, returns, combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The State Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to safe, orderly and regular migration and urged the EU and its Member States to expand opportunities for Bangladeshi skilled workers and professionals through practical, demand-driven and results-oriented mobility corridors as a way to incentivize regular migration. She also highlighted the Government’s adoption of the National Action Plan (NAP) 2026-2030 for implementing the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The EU Commissioner presented the EU’s “Eastern Corridor Initiative” that aims at combating irregular migration to the EU by engaging with countries of origin, transit and all stakeholders. The State Minister expressed Bangladesh’s openness to cooperation and informed the Commissioner of the steps being taken by Bangladesh, including initiatives against documents frauds and criminal networks, to prevent and combat irregular migration. She reiterated the importance of addressing the root causes of irregular migration for facilitating pathways for regular migration. Acknowledging the importance of coordinated initiatives to comprehensively address the issue, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the area of migration. The State Minister expressed Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening its multifaceted partnership with the European Union (EU) including expanding trade and investment cooperation. Both sides agreed to continued dialogue and closer cooperation on shared priorities.