United News of Bangladesh

Speakers at a book launching event on Monday called for collective efforts from local communities, government and the international partners to ensure a lasting peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), stressing that it is crucial not just for Bangladesh but for the security of the entire region. They acknowledged that peace has not been achieved yet even after 27 years of the signing of the CHT Accord and called for addressing the challenges through collective efforts. The unveiling ceremony of the book titled "Regional Security and CHT Peace Accord 1997: An Unfinished Peace Building Model of Bangladesh" written by Brig Gen (retd) Md Nasimul Gani, was held at Foreign Service Academy. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain spoke as the chief guest while Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on Defense & National Integration Development Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Hafiz as a special guest. Writer and public intellectual Prof Salimullah Khan also spoke, among others, at the launching ceremony. Adviser Hossain stressed the need for developing the basic respect and understanding to prevent small issues from snowballing into major conflicts and establish peace in the CHT. Govt working to resolve land issues in CHT: Adviser Supradip “If we can establish basic respect and understanding there, I think, small issues will not be there in the major conflicts,” he said. Focusing on taking the right steps to get back peace in this land, the Adviser said they have to respect distinct groups also with distinct cultures, equal rights and equal respect. Hossain, however, thought that the solution (to mistrust) is not easy particularly after so many years of living side by side with suspicion. “We lived side by side with suspicion for a long period. Initially it was not there but it grew overnight,” he said. He put emphasis on taking the right steps to establish peace in this land. “We need to respect their cultures. It’s a diversity we have. We have to accept that (this diversity),” he added. “I think we need to develop a culture in which we respect each other; we take care of each other,” he said, adding that the governing authorities must ensure it.  

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Saturday said Bangladesh needs to “maintain a kind a balance” in pursuing its foreign relations with big countries like India, China and the United States, mentioning that Bangladesh is not a major player in the global arena. “Bangladesh has an interest in every country. It’s an important issue that we need to keep in mind,” he said while speaking at a national dialogue organised by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies at the Krishibid Institute Bangladesh. The Adviser referred to the trade relations between India and China despite a conflict; and also India’s kind of friendly relations with the United States; and stressed that it is important for Bangladesh to maintain good relations with all these three countries. Pointing at the dialogue theme – Unity, Reforms and Elections - Hossain said unity was the most important thing.  Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 against Pakistan as the people of the country demonstrated unity, he said. Apparently referring to 1971 war criminals, Hossain, however, said there is lacking in any unity but the people of the country remained united “by and large” during the War of Liberation in 1971. South Asian nations, China must work together to ensure stability, development in region: Foreign Adviser He also said the people of the country united in favour of the students during the July-August movement which created an opportunity for the country to have a free environment. Talking about the responsibility of the political parties to have stronger democracy, Hossain said it is the responsibility of the people to observe and act if the political parties deviate from their key values. “If a democratic society can be established, mass people’s interests will get priority,” he said. Hossain hoped that the elected government will meet people’s expectations running the country in a united way. The Foreign Adviser also talked about the Rohingya crisis and the government’s efforts to deal with the situation. Turning to the six-nation consultation recently held in Bangkok under the chairmanship of the Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Hossain said he told the meeting that Bangladesh’s interests need to be looked at. He said they are not expecting that Bangladesh will be able to send back anyone (Rohingya) anytime soon but if peace is restored they must be repatriated. There has been no progress in their repatriation and the situation is further complicated by a non-state actor, the Arakan Army taking control of the entire border with Bangladesh. Referring to his meeting in Bangkok, the Foreign Adviser said, "I told them in no uncertain terms that peace and order will not be possible in Myanmar, and consequently in the region, unless the Rohingyas lodged in Bangladesh can go back to their homes with security and rights." It is incumbent on Myanmar and the regional powers to create a congenial atmosphere for their return, he said, “I had the scope to talk in detail as it was an informal discussion and I explained our position clearly,” Hossain said. Bangladesh must address pressing challenges, seize opportunities: Foreign Adviser At the inaugural session on Friday, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus highlighted the critical role of unity, reforms and elections in Bangladesh's progress, saying that neither reforms without unity nor elections without reforms can propel the country forward. “None of these three goals can be achieved alone,” he said, describing the correlation among them. In a recorded speech delivered at a national dialogue’s inaugural session in the capital, Dr Yunus thanked the Forum for Bangladesh Studies (FBS) for giving three things - unity, reform and elections’ importance in the dialogue, noting that they need consensus on reforms. The Chief Adviser thinks the minimum age for becoming eligible for a voter should be 17 years. “Young people are interested in the future of the country. To get their opinion about their own future, I think the voting age should be fixed at 17 years,” he said.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday expressed optimism that Bangladesh and India would be able to overcome the kind of stalemate that two neighbouring countries witnessed over the last few months. “We expect that we will be able to overcome this impasse. Establishing mutual communication and meeting each other are very important to overcome any such stalemate,” he said, adding that Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is coming to Bangladesh on Monday. Speaking at a seminar at the Jatiya Press Club, Hossain said the Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) is a standing mechanism and such a meeting at foreign secretary-level is nothing abnormal. “I hope they (foreign secretaries) will have a fruitful discussion,” said the Adviser, noting that it is important to acknowledge that there is a problem if they want to solve any problem. He said it is also important to note that the relations between Bangladesh and India witnessed changes after August 5 and both sides need to try and take forward the relations accepting this changed reality. The downturn that the two countries witnessed over the last few months in terms of bilateral business activities affected both Bangladesh and India, not just Bangladesh got affected, said the Adviser. He referred to the impacts that had on businesses in Kolkata and West Bengal. Bangladesh Chapter of the SAARC Journalists Forum hosted the seminar titled “The SAARC: People of South Asia Crave For” to commemorate the SAARC Day. SAARC Journalists Forum is a regional organisation of working journalists headquartered in Kathmandu. Former FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo and strategic expert Brig Gen Hasan Nasir also spoke at the seminar.  Mostafa Kamal Majumder, former editor of The New Nation, delivered the keynote address. Govt warns of action against illegal foreigners in Bangladesh The Foreign Adviser said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is very sincere to revitalise the SAARC and the efforts to that end can begin with foreign-secretary level standing committee meeting of the SAARC. It might take some time to see the SAARC Summit take place and noted that SAARC remains relevant, he said. The Adviser urged the foreign journalists to take this message from Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh that they favour revitalising the SAARC, making it effective again. “Media have a big role to play.”  “SAARC is a forgotten word. If you can revitalise it, this will give dividends to the people of the whole region,” Chief Adviser Prof Yunus told Secretary General of SAARC Golam Sarwar recently. Amid strained ties and growing criticisms from both sides on post-August 5 issues, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is coming to Bangladesh on Monday to hold several meetings apart from attending the foreign secretary-level talks to address mutual concerns. This is going to be the first visit to be made by a senior Indian government official to Bangladesh since the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, came to power on August 8. Foreign Secretary Misri and his Bangladesh counterpart, Md Jashim Uddin, will lead their respective delegation at the Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations (FOC). "The Foreign Secretary is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on the 9th of December. He will meet his counterpart, and there will be several other meetings during the visit," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Friday. The FOC led by the Foreign Secretaries is a structured engagement between Bangladesh-India. "We look forward to this meeting," said the MEA spokesperson. Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Mohammad Rafiqul Alam said there are always efforts to keep all the elements of the bilateral relations on agenda. "Discussion is underway." He, however, said there are some broad areas - trade, border management, connectivity, and water issues - and these will be discussed. "Maitri Diwas" a milestone, everlasting source of inspiration guiding Dhaka-Delhi ties: Pranay Verma Asked about the situation on the ground in Bangladesh and the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, the MEA reiterated its hope that the legal rights of the concerned individuals are respected and the trial is conducted in a "fair and transparent" manner. Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said Bangladesh wants good relations with India on a reciprocal basis. “It is very clear that we want good relations, but it should be reciprocal. We need to work to that end,” he told reporters while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The FOC is likely to cover a range of bilateral issues, including the potential extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India and visa issues. The last FOC, an institutional dialogue mechanism between the two foreign secretaries to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, was held in New Delhi on 24 November 2023. Both sides held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people to people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh. They also exchanged views on sub, regional, regional and multilateral issues.  

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said the current government did not give any impression at all to Pakistan that Bangladesh is willing to build good relations leaving aside the 1971 issue. “We have not seen any words coming from Pakistan. I personally think the relations will be easier if they (Pak government) show the courage to refer to what happened in 1971 and say that they are sincerely seeking apology,” he told reporters while responding to a question at a media briefing. Bangladesh wants Pakistan to seek apology publicly with a formal announcement for the atrocities it perpetrated against unarmed Bangalees in 1971.       “Everything doesn’t go by the law”: Foreign Adviser on Hasina’s stay in India Bangladesh Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus called for the revival of Saarc as a top platform for regional cooperation in South Asia when he met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters. “It was entirely a courtesy meeting. We don’t raise difficult issues in such courtesy meetings. When we will sit down for discussion, we will raise such difficult issues,” said the Foreign Adviser. He said they will try to maintain good relations with Pakistan but 1971 issues will be there. “1971 is always in our hearts.” During his meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Yunus, Pakistan’s PM Sharif said Bangladesh and Pakistan should open a “new page” in their relations to enhance cooperation in various aspects. “It’s essential we revive our relations,” he said. Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and Director General (Public Diplomacy Wing) Toufique Hasan were also present.