United News of Bangladesh

US President Donald Trump declared a complete halt on all “reciprocal” tariffs that took effect at midnight, with the exception of those imposed on China. Trump announced that tariffs on China would rise from 104% to 125%, reports CNN. Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has expressed his gratitude to President Trump for his decision. "Thank you, Mr. President, (@POTUS) for responding positively to our request for 90-day pause on tariffs. We will continue to work with your administration in support of your trade agenda," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said quoting Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump stated that he had “authorized a 90-day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately.” “Due to the lack of respect China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately,” Trump wrote on his social media. “At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable,” he added. The decision to raise tariffs on China followed Beijing's announcement of new retaliatory tariffs on the United States, set to take effect on Thursday. The Trump administration has specifically targeted China's trade practices, said the report. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised Trump’s resolve, stating on Wednesday that Trump had “great courage to stay the course until this moment.” The administration has warned countries worldwide, “do not retaliate and you will be rewarded,” and expressed willingness to negotiate with any nation seeking to engage in talks, Bessent noted. Bessent emphasized that the move “signals that President Trump cares about trade and that we want to negotiate in good faith.” Both Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were with Trump when he posted his message on Truth Social, Lutnick confirmed on a post on X,added the report. “Scott Bessent and I sat with the President while he wrote one of the most extraordinary Truth posts of his Presidency,” Lutnick wrote. “The world is ready to work with President Trump to fix global trade, and China has chosen the opposite direction.” Stocks surged following the announcement, with the Dow climbing 2,200 points, or 5.9%. The S&P 500 gained 6.5%, and the Nasdaq rose by more than 8%. The markets had been under pressure due to the potential for significantly higher tariffs, as outlined by Trump last week, the report also said. However, Trump did not indicate that he was pausing the 10% universal tariff on all trading partners, except for Canada and Mexico, which took effect over the weekend. As a result, countries that had reciprocal tariffs imposed on them would still face a 10% tariff, Bessent confirmed.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has called for global action against racial injustice and highlighted the plight of the Rohingya people, who remain victims of racial discrimination and prolonged statelessness. Since 2017, Bangladesh has sheltered over a million forcibly displaced Rohingyas, but their repatriation to Myanmar remains the only sustainable solution to this protracted crisis, he said in a message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. UNHCR deplores funding cuts in humanitarian sector putting millions at risk The global community must engage actively to ensure their early repatriation to their homeland in Myanmar, Dr Yunus said. On this occasion, Bangladesh reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance in all its forms. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). Dhaka calls for stronger global cooperation, investment to advance gender equality "As a state party to ICERD, Bangladesh upholds non-discrimination as a core principle of governance and society," said the Chief Adviser.

A delegation of 80 students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) on Sunday left Khulna for Dhaka to meet Chief Adviser (CA) Prof Muhammad Yunus amid unrest on their campus following series of clashes between two groups of students. Two buses carrying the students left the Kuet campus at 8am as they were scheduled to meet the CA at 11am at his official residence Jamuna. Before leaving the campus, the students wearing red clothes on heads and eyes said they were going to Dhaka to put forward their six-point demand, including resignation of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mashud Chowdhury and Pro VC Prof Dr Shariful Islam. Kuet sues 400 people over attacks on students They alleged that they are feeling insecurity on the campus and will go into safe places after meeting. The students said they would not return to the campus until their security is ensured but their activities will go online. Tensions gripped the campus following reported attacks on general students over the demand of banning student politics on the campus. Chhata Shibir and Chhatra Dal blamed each other for the attacks that left at least 50 students. In the face of demonstrations by the students, the Kuet authorities said all kinds of politics on the campus will remain banned as earlier and announced the suspension of academic activities at the university till February 28. Politics at Kuet remains banned; committee formed over clashes But, the students have been continuing their movement to realise their six-point demand.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday assured that trial of all killings and disappearances will be held but it becomes injustice if there are efforts to do the trial instantly. "The main thing about the trial is that it should be fair...there should not be any injustice. This struggle and sacrifices were made because we stood against injustice. If we indulge in injustice, then where is the difference between them and us? We will not indulge in injustice,” he said while speaking at a meeting with the family members of July uprising victims at the Chief Adviser's Office in Dhaka'. Bimstec Summit: A meeting between Dr Yunus and Modi in the making? The Chief Adviser said they will hand over those people who are criminals to police, not the innocent people. Dr Yunus said those who are criminals must be tried and those who are not criminals must be brought to the righteous path. At this time, he called on the families of July martyrs and July fighters to keep a vigilant eye so that there is no violence and clashes in the country. Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk E Azam, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam and Special Assistant Prof Md Sayedur Rahman were present on the occasion. Election Roadmap: BNP delegation to meet Dr Yunus Monday The interim government started providing state financial assistance to families of July uprising victims and martyrs. The Chief Adviser formally inaugurated the programme by handing over cheques to 21 families of July martyrs and 7 injured people at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon on Monday. Three martyr families and three fighters spoke at the meeting. They raised various issues including the trial of the murders, receiving state honors, financial assistance and rehabilitation. They broke down in tears while describing their experiences in July. The Chief Adviser said, "I always think that the sacrifices of those who are brave enough to call the country a new Bangladesh cannot be measured by any criteria." Calling the injured and martyrs of the July uprising as the creators of history, he said, "You are living history. I am grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. A nation that cannot remember its history cannot develop as a nation. This recognition is my gratitude to you on behalf of the nation."  Addressing the families of the martyrs and the injured, he said that from today they have officially become part of the government. "This is institutional recognition. Beyond this, everyone in society has to accept your responsibility." In the meeting, the injured and martyred families were informed about the government's programme for July martyrs and July fighters by the Ministry of Freedom Fighters. According to the government's decision, the martyrs of the July uprising will be called 'July martyrs' and the injured will be called 'July fighters' and will receive identity cards. CA Dr Yunus to attend World Governments Summit 2025 in Dubai Adviser Nahid Islam said, "We know that your desire was that we could do the institutional work earlier. We did not have any lack of sincerity. Everyone in the government, including our Chief Adviser, worked to give you due honor. We had to take responsibility during the crisis, so we could not do it according to your desire. For this reason, I express my regret."

Egypt has invited Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to attend the D-8 Summit which will be held later this year.  Ambassador of Egypt to Bangladesh Omar Mohie Eldin Ahmed Fahmy met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday and informed that Egypt would host the D-8 Summit in 2024. He conveyed Egypt's invitation for the participation of the chief adviser, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as Developing-8, is an organisation for development co-operation among Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.  Egypt keen to import rawhides from Bangladesh The establishment of D-8  Organization for Economic Cooperation was announced officially through the Istanbul Declaration of Summit of Heads of State/Government on June 15, 1997.