BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to depart for London on January 7 to undergo advanced medical treatment for multiple health conditions. "Madam (Khaleda) may travel to London on January 7 if she remains fit for the air journey," her personal physician Prof AZM Zahid Hossain told UNB without giving further details. Khaleda Zia is expected to first stay with her son, Tarique Rahman, in London before heading to the United States for treatment of her ongoing liver complications. Her medical team said that all arrangements have been made for her treatment at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University Hospital in East Baltimore, Maryland. Khaleda Zia, 79, has been battling multiple health issues, including liver cirrhosis, diabetes, arthritis, and complications involving her kidneys, lungs, heart, and eyes. Her doctors have been advocating for her overseas treatment since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in late 2021. Last year, on October 26, a team of three specialist doctors from the United States performed the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure to address fluid accumulation in her stomach and chest, as well as liver bleeding. In an effort to accompany her during the trip, a 15-member delegation will travel with the BNP chief, including her late son Arafat Rahman Koko's wife, Syeda Sharmila Rahman, several physicians, BNP leaders, personal staff, and two housemaids. A senior BNP leader revealed that Khaleda Zia’s office has already informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding her treatment abroad, including the details of the accompanying delegation. According to sources, Khaleda Zia will be flown to London on an air ambulance provided by Qatar Airways. Upon arrival, she will join her eldest son, Tarique Rahman, and his family, who have been living in London since 2008. Khaleda Zia's health has been a subject of concern for years. She was incarcerated in 2018 following her conviction in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. In March 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the government temporarily released her on an executive order, suspending her sentence on the condition that she remain at her Gulshan residence and not leave the country. On August 6, 2023, Khaleda Zia was fully freed by an order from President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Her planned treatment abroad marks a new chapter in her ongoing battle with severe health conditions.

Sir Paul McCartney has reunited with his former Beatles bandmate Sir Ringo Starr during a gig at London's O2 Arena. The drummer was brought on stage to thunderous applause before the pair launched into classics Helter Skelter and Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. "I've had a great night and I love you all," Sir Ringo said later as he walked offstage. Thursday's performance was the last in Sir Paul's Got Back tour, which saw the 82-year-old play in France, Spain and Brazil. Sir Ringo was not the only musical guest appearance on Thursday night. Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood joined Sir Paul for a rendition of Get Back, during which the latter played his original Hofner 500/1 bass guitar for the first time in more than 50 years. The instrument was stolen in 1972 but Sir Paul was reunited with it earlier this year. Kennedy Center Honors 2024: Coppola, Grateful Dead, Raitt, Sandoval, and The Apollo Celebrated Sir Paul and Sir Ringo, who are the last surviving core members of The Beatles, have played together a number of times since the band broke up in 1969. That includes at Sir Ringo's 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and on Sir Paul's last tour, Freshen Up, in 2019. Sir Paul is known for treating his fans to jumbo performances packed with hits from his lengthy musical career, which also includes the band Wings and several solo albums. Thursday night was no difference, with him playing nearly 40 songs on various instruments. Other highlights from Thursday's gig included a performance of In Spite of All the Danger, the first song recorded by the Sir Paul's first band, The Quarrymen, of which the late John Lennon and George Harrison were also members. He was also joined by a children's choir to sing his festive favourite Wonderful Christmastime. Source: With inputs from BBC

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir returned home from London on Thursday, after completing a 10-day visit. Fakhrul, accompanied by his wife Rahat Ara Begum, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 12:45pm, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. During his stay in London, Fakhrul met party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to discuss political affairs. Read: Mirza Fakhrul returns home He also participated in several party programmess and exchanged views with local journalists. Sources within the party said Fakhrul and Tarique Rahman, along with local leaders, discussed the potential visit of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to London for medical treatment. The 79-year-old former Prime Minister is expected to first receive treatment in the UK, and may then travel to the United States for further care. The BNP has made all necessary arrangements for her to receive specialised treatment at an advanced medical center abroad.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir left the country for London, UK on Saturday morning on a 10-day visit. He  along with his wife Rahat Ara Begum, departed  from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 8:25am, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.  He said the BNP leader is expected to return to home on December 11. Fakhrul ready to embark on London tour According to BNP sources, Fakhrul is travelling to London to meet party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to discuss political and party matters. Once Mirza Fakhrul returns, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia may travel to London for medical treatment. The 79-year-old former Prime Minister is likely to first receive treatment in the UK, and may then travel to the United States for further care.  

Bangladesh and the United Kingdom are considering signing a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) on economic cooperation. Expressing satisfaction at the record-breaking bilateral trade of $6.4 billion in 2022-23 and $561 million FDI from the UK, the highest from any country in 2022, Bangladesh and the UK agreed to create new institutional cooperation to promote business, trade and investments. The issues were discussed at the 5th Bangladesh-UK Strategic Dialogue held in Dhaka on September 12. Momen offers condolence to people and govt of Libya over deadly flood The Dialogue, led respectively by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and UK FCDO Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Philip Barton, reviewed the entire gamut of historic relations between the two Commonwealth nations, including political, economic, security and defence, migration and mobility, climate and development partnerships. Under-Secretary Sir Barton commended the remarkable socio-economic progress and resilient economic growth achieved by Bangladesh over the past decade. The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary commended the UK’s sustained market-access support to Bangladesh as its 3rd largest export destination and urged for its extension until 2029 and beyond following Bangladesh’s scheduled LDC graduation in 2026. Both sides also agreed to explore signing of an MoU on cooperation in cybersecurity. They acknowledged their long-standing value-based ties since 1971 and recalled the historic visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to London on January 8, 1972. Under-Secretary Sir Barton expressed his deep appreciation for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s participation in the State Funeral of UK’s late monarch Queen Elizabeth II and the historic royal coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The Bangladesh side expressed hope that King Charles III would reschedule his postponed visit to Bangladesh at his earliest convenience, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. Bangladesh and the UK agreed on enhancing migration and mobility cooperation especially in gainful employment in the nursing, hospitality, agricultural, construction and masonry and other services sectors in the UK. Commonwealth ministers pay homage at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum Both sides agreed to constitute a ‘Joint Working Group’ to discuss migration, mobility and mutual recognition of qualifications. They also agreed to sign an SoP on returns of Bangladeshi nationals in irregular situation in the UK. Bangladesh thanked the UK Government for a significant increase in issuance of student, visit and business visas in 2022. The two sides also discussed mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. Recalling the Climate Accord signed between Bangladesh and the UK in March this year, both sides expressed their determination to cooperate in climate action bilaterally and multilaterally. They also agreed to sign a Joint Action Plan with time-bound activities under the Climate Accord towards a net-zero and nature-positive world. The Bangladesh side expressed commitment to forge ahead with its national targets under SDG 16 for building a just, peaceful and inclusive society. The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary reiterated Bangladesh’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy against terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization. Both sides agreed to intensify cooperation and capacity building on global and regional security issues of mutual interest including maritime and aviation safety and security in the Indian Ocean as well as countering extremist and terrorist outfits. The UK commended Bangladesh’s leading contribution to world peace under UN peacekeeping missions, especially praising one of the highest contributions of female peacekeepers by Bangladesh. Bangladesh's hearing at ITLOS on submission by Small Island States on Wednesday The two countries expressed satisfaction at the First Defence Dialogue held in 2022 and agreed to sign an MoU on defence cooperation during the 2nd Dialogue in London. The UK appreciated Bangladesh’s generous hosting of Rohingyas from Myanmar and Bangladesh appreciated UK’s humanitarian and political support to the Rohingya crisis including at the UN Security Council and Commonwealth. Both sides expressed concern over the protracted Rohingya crisis and reaffirmed commitment to working closely towards a voluntary, safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar. Emphasizing the importance of international accountability of the atrocities committed on the Rohingyas, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary thanked the UK for joining the Rohingya justice case at the ICJ. The UK side welcomed Bangladesh’s recently announced ‘Indo-Pacific Outlook’. Both sides agreed to forge new partnerships towards ensuring a free, open, peaceful, secure and inclusive Indo-Pacific for shared prosperity. Bangladesh and the UK agreed to intensify cooperation in different regional and multilateral fora including at the UN, Commonwealth, IMO and IORA. Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem and British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke joined their respective delegations along with representatives from various ministries and agencies of the two countries. The next round of Strategic Dialogue is expected to be held in London in 2024.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday (May 09, 2023) morning returned home from London after her 15-day official visit to Japan, the US and the UK. A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:05am. The flight departed Heathrow International Airport, London at 6:25pm on Monday (London Time). On April 25 last, Hasina left Dhaka for Tokyo on a four-day official visit to Japan on the first leg of her official three-nation visit. She went to Japan at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio. During her stay in Tokyo, the Bangladesh PM met Emperor of Japan Naruhito, held summit meeting with her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio. Read more: PM leaves London for home, ending 15-day foreign visit She and her Japanese counterpart witnessed the exchange of eight instruments, mostly memorandums of cooperation signed between Dhaka and Tokyo to boost cooperation in the sectors of agriculture, metro-rail, industrial up-gradation, ship-recycling, customs matters, intellectual property, defense, ICT and cyber security. She also attended an investment summit and a community reception as well as handed over the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” to two Japanese nationals for their special contribution to the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Besides, Hasina held meetings separately with Foreign Minister of Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr Tanaka Akihiko, Chairman of Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial & Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) Fumiya Kokubu, Chairman and CEO of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Ishiguro Norihiko and President of Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JBPFL) Taro Aso. On April 28, the PM left Tokyo for Washington DC on a six-day official visit to the USA on the second leg of her three-nation tour in a bid to attend the celebration of the 50 years of partnership between the World Bank and Bangladesh. Read More: Blair calls on PM at Claridge's, offers help to attract investment She attended a seminar titled "Reflection on 50 years of Bangladesh-World Bank Partnership" organized at the headquarters of the World Bank in Washington DC, USA on May 1. In Washington DC, Sheikh Hasina also had meetings separately with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and President and CEO of US Chamber of Commerce Suzanne P. Clark. Besides, she attended a high-level executive roundtable with the US business delegation and a community reception. On May 04, the premier left Washington DC for London on a five-day official visit to the UK to attend the coronation of UK's King Charles III, hosted by Buckingham Palace on May 06. Read More: Bangladesh's next general election will be fair, PM Hasina tells UK In London, Hasina had interaction with King Charles III, a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. She also attended the Commonwealth Leaders Event, the King's reception for heads of states, governments and overseas representatives at Buckingham Palace in advance of the coronation of the King and the Queen Consort, and a community reception. She had a meeting with and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema there. Besides, PM Hasina had interactions with Presidents of Egypt and Rwanda, Prime Ministers of Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Gambia, Namibia and Uganda in the coronation programme of King Charles III. Read More: PM attends coronation of King Charles III

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has once again urged the people  not to vote for BNP-Jamaat nexus in Bangladesh's next general election as they will just ruin the country. “They (BNP-Jamaat) will just destroy the country, nothing else. So, make it sure that BNP-Jamaat must not come to power again,” she said. The prime minister made the call on Sunday (May 07, 2023) while addressing a civic reception accorded to her by Bangladeshi expatriates in the UK at London Marriott Hotel. She said that BNP-Jamaat alliance is just a bunch of killers, thieves and corrupts. Read More: Khulna city polls: Miscreants attack BNP leader Kaisar’s house, threaten not to join election “So people should remain cautious and must not cast their votes for them,” she said.  Hasina, the chief of the ruling Awami League, expressed hope that people of the country will give their verdict in favour of Awami League in the next general election. “Inshallah people will vote for us in the next election to setve them one more time,” she said. She said that BNP-Jamaat nexus siphoned off money and put the country on the verge of destruction. Read More: BNP leaders losing their mind over world's praise for Bangladesh: Hasan Mahmud “How could people cast their votes for them,” she wondered. She said that Tarique Rahman (BNP vice chairman) has been convicted of corruption and the government has been able to bring back some Tk 40 crore that was smuggled by Koko ( late son of BNP leader Khaleda Zia). Reiterating her determination to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh, Hasina said, “Bangladesh will be a smart Bangladesh by 2041. We have formulated Delta 2100 plan. We have to take the country forward.” She said that there will be no homeless, landless people in the country. Read More: BNP burning over PM's success on tours: Hasan Mahmud “Awami League works for the welfare of people. No person in Bangladesh will remain without food," she said. Criticising BNP leaders including Tarique , the PM said, "Today, where do you get the courage to call us vote thieves?" She said that Tarique Zia was a vote thief, and his mother ( Khaleda Zia) too. PM Hasina said that Awami League did not come to power by rigging the votes of the people. Read More: BNP-Jamaat protesters refuse PM Hasina's invite to meet her in hotel: Official “Awami League always fights for the rights of the people; Awami League has come to power after being elected by thecpeople. Awami League never grabbed or stole power,” she said. Hasina asked the BNP leaders to reflect on how many parties participated in the February 15, 1996 election and how many votes were cast. Awami League president said that the people of the country are now aware enough about their right to vote. "We have made the people aware.” The prime minister said that no one has anything to say about the fairness of the 2008 election that was won by the Awami League-led alliance. Read More: BNP, Ganatantra Mancha meeting held on future of anti-govt movement “What is the result of that election? How many seats did BNP's 20-party alliance get? The 20-party coalition won 29 seats in the election and 1 in a by-election, totaling 30 seats. And the remaining seat is Awami League-led alliance. We got it all. Where is their position among the people that they jump so much?” She briefly described various development programmes of the government that have been taken in the last 14 years.  

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday (May 05, 2023) said that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a great inspiration to him. “My wife and two daughters are your fans,” he was quoted as saying during a bilateral meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart at the Marlborough House of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. This was the first meeting between the two prime ministers after Sunak took over as the Prime Minister of Britain. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is in London to attend the coronation of King Charles III. Also read: PM Hasina holds bilateral meeting with Rishi Sunak Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem briefed reporters after the meeting. PM’s Speech Writer M Nazrul Islam was also present during the briefing. PM Hasina congratulated Sunak at the beginning of the meeting. She congratulated him on becoming the first British prime minister of Asian heritage at a young age. “You are a great example of what the youth can do,” she was quoted as saying. Praising Bangladesh's economic growth and Sheikh Hasina's leadership, Sunak wanted to know the secret behind success in maintaining high economic growth before and after the Covid-19 pandemic, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Britain said. Read More: UK’s Sunak set to say security guarantees need for Ukraine She also said the British PM considers Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a role model. Highlighting UK's relationship with Bangladesh, the High Commissioner said, “Rishi Sunak said that our relationship is very good. We have a wonderful relationship of 50 years. (In the future) it will be even better.” She said that there was a discussion on business relations between the two PMs. “As you know our relationship with Britain earlier was an aid-based relationship. But now, even 1 percent of our GDP is not from aid,” the Bangladesh High Commissioner said. Read More: Sunak marks 100 days as UK prime minister as problems mount “The British PM wanted to increase the trade and investment between Bangladesh and Britain,” she said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that British companies should invest more in Bangladesh. High Commissioner Saida Muna also said that Britain attaches great importance to Bangladesh. Heads of states and governments from 130 countries have come to the UK to attend the King's coronation. “Among them, Rishi Sunak has held bilateral meetings with the heads of states and governments of only 7 countries. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was among them.” Read More: Dhaka, Beijing should "deepen strategic partnership" to explore new growth points: Ambassador Yao During the bilateral meeting that went on for about 35 minutes, various bilateral and regional issues were discussed as well as Rohingyas who were forcibly displaced from their homeland in Myanmar. Saida Muna said, "Rishi Sunak mentioned that Bangladesh is carrying this huge burden, and Britain understands that it is a big problem." Sheikh Hasina thanked the British Prime Minister and people for their support to the Rohingya issue. She also said that the burden of Rohingyas has become a big security threat. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited Rishi Sunak to visit Bangladesh to see the conditions of Rohingyas firsthand. Read More: UK private sector to remain invested in BD's aviation sector Sunak praised Prime Minister Hasina's leadership on the issue of climate change as well. While talking about the Ashrayan Project, the Bangladeshi Prime Minister said that so far some seven lakh homeless families have been given houses under the project. British PM Rishi Sunak highly praised the Ashrayan project, the Bangladesh High Commissioner said.

For the first time in UK, West End district of London has been lit up with 30,000 lights to mark the holy month of Ramadan. Coventry Street, which links Leicester Square with Piccadilly, is illuminated with "Happy Ramadan”, BBC reports. London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan, one of the 1.3 million Muslims in the capital of United Kingdom celebrating Ramadan, switched on the lights. The installation was created by Ayshea Desai, who was motivated by her love of Christmas lights, according to BBC. Read More: UNICEF launching first large-scale fundraising campaign in Bangladesh this Ramadan She said: "I just had the ambition to do it like the Christmas lights.” "I remembered going to visit the Christmas lights with my sister when I was growing up and I also had an opportunity to live in the Middle East and I wanted to bring that joy and magic to London, the city that I'm from," she told BBC. Desai began the project three years ago. "It looks incredible, I'm so overwhelmed with the response," she said. Read More: Muslim authorities say Ramadan fasting to begin Thursday "I wanted to raise that awareness as well to let our neighbours know that this is a really important month for us, it's my favourite month of the year and I'm just grateful that we're here today." According to BBC, a public Iftar will be organized at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, where a temporary mosque and Ramadan pavilion have been constructed for Muslims and non-Muslims. Meanwhile, Chelsea football club will also organize open Iftar at the side of the pitch at Stamford Bridge, in what will be a first for the club and a Premier League stadium. Wembley stadium will do the same later in the month, BBC reported. Read More: Ministry to sell meat, eggs at lower prices in Dhaka during Ramadan

The Bangladesh High Commission in London has taken a special initiative to increase the flow of remittances from the UK and Ireland through official channels. A views-exchange meeting ‘Opportunities for Greater Remittance Flows from the UK and Ireland’ was organised by the high commission with representatives of money exchange houses of the UK to this end on Friday (local time). Urging British-Bangladeshis to send remittances legally, Bangladesh High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem said the government led by Sheikh Hasina announced a 2.5 percent incentive against remittances for the expatriates to encourage them to send the money through valid channels.   Read more: Digital infrastructure key to attracting more remittance through legal channels, speakers say She also consulted the money exchange houses to take special initiatives to boost the flows of remittance. A remittance fair will be organised in east London to increase awareness about the official channels to send remittance, she said. The high commissioner said the representatives of the money exchange houses will be trained about the means by which they can send the remittances at a low charge by using several apps. Apart from this, community televisions, newspapers and social media will be engaged in escalating the awareness about the sending of money through valid channels, she said. The money exchange representatives tabled several problems and proposals during the meeting, which weren't specified in the high commission's press release. The high commissioner however is said to have assured them of overcoming all the hurdles. Read more: Mobile financial service providers can bring remittance directly: Bangladesh Bank