United News of Bangladesh

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Thursday stated unequivocally that in today’s unpredictable world, Bangladesh can count on the EU as a steadfast partner. “We are your steadfast partner; in your political transition, whose success we support; in implementing your reform agenda on climate action, energy and other sectors," he said. The Ambassador visited Khulna University and addressed students and members of the institution.  This was the fourth in a series of workshops organised with Bangladesh youths on climate change.  The NGO ‘Youth for NDC’s’ has had the lead in organising these events.    Alluding to COP30, to be held in Brazil in November next, Miller drew attention to the Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs - each country’s pledge to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.   Referring to Bangladesh’s NDC 3.0, he stressed the crucial role the young will have in shaping a sustainable future. Bangladesh and the EU are both strong defenders of the need to stay below 1.5 degrees.  "So let me start by restating just how much we have in common. Bangladesh is among the most climate vulnerable countries in the world, and this region in Bangladesh is among the most vulnerable to floods, cyclones and salination, disrupting lives and livelihoods," said the EU ambassador.   He said, Europe, which was warming twice as fast as the global average, feels climate change acutely.  “Drought, wildfires, heatstroke increasingly affect our citizens.” Noting that the European Union, through its European Green Deal, is driving transition to a net-zero economy by 2050, Miller observed that they have turned away from fossil fuels, embracing decarbonisation and clean technology, decoupling economic growth from emissions growth.  "Our Green Deal is our growth strategy, and we are committed to delivering on its objectives:  our strength lies in our policy predictability, our transparency and our good governance, all of which is a huge selling point for clean-tech investors and companies.”  EU lauds Dhaka’s collaborative efforts in addressing irregular migration Underlining the fact that one fifth of the world’s clean technologies are now being developed in Europe, the ambassador said that EU’s share of global emissions stood at a low 6 per cent.  “In 2023, our greenhouse gas emissions fell by 8 per cent, bringing total reductions to 37 per cent below 1990 levels.”  The ambassador attributed this to the shutting down of coal-fired power plants, investment in energy efficiency and a rise in the use of renewable energy.  Reiterating that the EU is a steady and unwavering partner of Bangladesh, Miller said through the Global Gateway initiative, they are investing Euro 1.3 billion in energy efficiency, renewable energy, grid modernization and regional connectivity. A key part of this is the Euro 350 million loan from the European Investment Bank, EIB and Euro 45 million EU grant to support solar and wind projects.  Stating that Bangladesh is ‘not’ among the world’s largest emitters, Miller added, “I want to stress that an ambitious NDC 3.0 has the potential to do in Bangladesh what I have described for the EU: drive innovation, attract investment, and foster inclusive growth! It can provide stakeholders with clarity and stability, paving the way for much needed capital and expertise to flow.” Calling Bangladesh’s NDC 3.0, a vision for the future, Miller underlined the significance of engaging the dynamism of modern day youth in ensuring a greener tomorrow.  “Your ideas, your energy, and your innovation are vital to crafting an NDC that reflects the needs and aspirations of your generation.”  "Climate change affects you the most, and your voices must shape the solutions," said Miller.  The Vice Chancellor, teachers, high officials of the university were also present at the event. 

Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi has said post-uprising Bangladesh must approach meaningful labour reforms with greater confidence, speed and accountability than ever before, with unprecedented levels of social dialogue. "This is not only a moral obligation from the perspective of governance and human rights, it is imperative for the enlightened self-interest of our business community for favourable terms of access to key markets," he said.   The issues were discussed when European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller met him on Wednesday. Made ‘dramatic progress’ on labour reforms: Lutfey Siddiqi tells foreign diplomats "It was a pleasure to catch up on this and other issues with EU Ambassador Michael Miller when he called on me yesterday (Wednesday). We’re grateful for his support," Siddiqi said. "I’m looking forward to meeting a delegation of EU parliamentarians next month," said the Special Envoy in a post from his verified Facebook account on Thursday.

Ambassador and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Tuesday announced that the EU will provide a support package of 4 million euros to help Bangladesh conduct elections in line with international standards, emphasising their desire for the polls to be free, fair and highly credible. “I came here today to announce that the European Union will provide a support package in excess of 4 million euros to help Bangladesh run elections in line with international standards,” he said while talking to reporters after leading a six-member EU delegation in a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the latter's Nirbachan Bhaban office. Michael Miller said the European Union is here working in partnership with Bangladesh in support of a transition that will lead up to democratic elections. “We are heading towards a timeline of early 2026,” he said. Replying to a question about the election environment in Bangladesh, the EU Ambassador said what they are discussing now is the very practical steps that need to be taken immediately in the coming weeks and months in order to ensure the credibility of these elections. “And that is why we are here mobilising our expertise now. Because we actually want your elections to be very credible and held in line with international standards and of course free and fair,” he said. Miller said he was accompanied not only by the European Union delegation colleagues but also by the European Partnership for Democracy and they are implementing partners, electoral experts who will be here to ensure that there is a strong focus on citizen observation in the coming elections. Besides, the EU has a focus on voter education in Bangladesh as the European Union is determined to empower its partner in Bangladesh and of course the election commission as it conducts these elections. Local govt elections essential to ensure acceptable public services during national polls: Speakers He mentioned that the EU will also support the Bangladesh election commission directly in terms of capacity building and expert input including in the fields of operational planning and dispute resolution to give examples. “Our focus here on the conduct of elections as in other areas of our work in Bangladesh will be on ensuring the independence and the efficiency and the accountability of the institutions here,” Miller added. Miller said the European Union considers Bangladesh a priority for a potential EU election observation mission. “So, this is something that we will continue to discuss with the interim government and the election commission in the coming months,” he said. Replying to another question, Michael Miller said a team of EU technical experts will come to Bangladesh next month to consider whether the context is right for the EU to deploy an election observation mission here in Bangladesh. “So, we are looking at feasibility and we are looking at the advisability but what I can tell you is that politically Bangladesh is a priority for the European Union when it comes to the deployment of an election observation mission,” he said. In response to another question, the EU envoy said he thinks there are a number of issues that need to be addressed because Bangladesh is in the middle of a very profound political transition. Obviously, when it comes to the elections, Bangladesh does have long-standing experience of running democratic elections, but more recently, of course, those elections have been highly questionable in terms of the conduct and the results, Miller said. ‘Our overall focus on national polls, not any other polls’, says EC Sanaullah “Now, what we see here is the need to ensure that your voters, especially your young voters who may never have participated in an election, that they have sufficient education to be able to exercise their democratic right,” the EU ambassador said. “We have to be sure that you have the capacity in your administration to counter disinformation and misinformation. And of course that's not just a problem here, but it's a problem everywhere. So on all of these issues, we will be working there. We are at the stage now of identifying how we can best help,” he added. Talking about a new EU-funded project, the EU ambassador said the EU will work on voter education, ensuring that domestic observer organizations have the capacity to deploy in the field. Besides, the EU will work with the Bangladesh election commission and work also with smaller civil society organizations in Bangladesh that are specialized in digital rights and countering misinformation. Those afraid of elections should join NGOs, not politics: Amir Khosru Other members of the delegation were Sebastian Riger-Brown, First Secretary (Political) of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh; Enrico Lorenzon, First Secretary and Team Leader for Inclusive Governance; Tanja Nader, Programme Manager for Inclusive Governance; Michael Lidauer, Senior International Advisor, EPD; and Anas Wibawa, Project Director for the Citizen Election Observers Component, EPD, at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh.

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Tuesday said investing in strong and inclusive social protection systems is vital to promoting prosperity, stability and social cohesion as Bangladesh moves toward graduation from Least Developed Country status. He said social protection is about respect, dignity, and resilience. "It helps people navigate life’s uncertainties. It also helps rebuild public trust in state institutions," said the Ambassador. The European Union (EU) has disbursed EUR 23.5 million to the government of Bangladesh to support improved social protection. This grant financing recognises progress and encourages further efforts to implement the National Social Security Strategy, notably for Bangladesh’s most vulnerable citizens, despite facing a series of challenges, including high inflation and job losses in the garment sector. The EU is Bangladesh’s long-term partner for improved social protection, a priority issue for the country’s inclusive economic development. Since 2019, the EU has provided EUR 285 million in grants for social protection, including EUR 20 million from Germany, according to the EU Embassy in Dhaka. EU envoy hopes for restoration of democracy in Bangladesh: Khosru Another EUR 15 million is being provided to help implement reforms through technical assistance, said the Embassy on Tuesday. With this financing, the EU helped Bangladesh pay over 90 percent of cash benefits directly into people’s accounts through the digital Government-to-Person system. A Single Registry has been launched, linking more than 30 programmes, which improve transparency, reduce duplication, and ensure better targeting. A Labour Information Management System is under development and already includes data for over 650,000 workers across the formal and informal sectors. The Employment Injury Scheme pilot is now providing lifelong pensions in cases of workplace or commuting accidents and is expanding to more sectors, including export processing zones. Moreover, for the first time, over 1,200 unemployed workers from one factory have received benefits under the government’s unemployment support programme. The EU encouraged the government of Bangladesh to reaffirm its commitment to essential reforms by adopting a renewed National Social Security Strategy beyond 2026. The revised strategy should prioritise improved targeting, better responsiveness to urban and climate-related challenges, and the development of sustainable long-term financing solutions, said the EU. The EU also supports concrete steps to make the social protection system more inclusive and effective. Key measures include linking the Finance Division’s Single Registry MIS with other national databases, such as the Tax Identification Number (TIN) and Savings Certificate systems, and enhancing the Social Protection Programme for Unemployed and Distressed Workers, enabling direct registration for eligible individuals. Bangladesh's RMG exports to EU reach $8.07 billion in Jan-Apr 2025 In addition, the EU called for the strengthening of contributory schemes for working-age populations and for improvements in the quality of service delivery, to help ensure that all citizens have access to adequate social protection throughout their lives. The EU underlined the importance of addressing macroeconomic and public financial management challenges, in particular by enhancing domestic revenue mobilisation, which remains notably low. It highlighted the need to safeguard human rights and encourages greater policy oversight by civil society actors. This support is part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the Team Europe Initiative on Decent Work, which brings together more than 50 programmes and EUR 500 million in combined funding to promote labour rights, skills, and social protection in Bangladesh.

European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday and discussed a range of issues relating to Bangladesh’s upcoming elections, reforms and bilateral issues. The hour-long meeting, which began around 11 am, was held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed were also present at the meeting. Chinese Ambassador meets foreign secy, discusses various issues Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Khosru said, “We had an extensive discussion regarding the overall political and economic situation in Bangladesh, as well as bilateral matters.” He said they also talked about Bangladesh’s upcoming general election, the ongoing reform initiatives, and the restoration of democratic processes. The BNP leader said the EU is keen to assist Bangladesh in building capacity to strengthen the electoral process and various institutions through reforms.

The European Union (EU) will support Bangladesh to conduct elections in line with international standards with a significant financial package as well as its experiences and expertise. “The EU will support the conduct of elections in this country in line with international standards,” said EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Sunday. He said this while talking to reporters after a meeting between a five-member EU delegation and Chief Election Commissioners AMM Nasir Uddin at the latter's office in the capital. The EU ambassador said they will provide this support with a significant financial package as well as offering their experiences and expertise in the conduct of elections in Bangladesh. The EU also wants to deploy an election observation mission in Bangladesh, he added. He said they passed two other key messages through the Bangladesh Election Commission. Raising the messages, he said the EU is a steadfast partner for this country and standing with Bangladesh at this moment of incredibly important transition. EU supports interim govt’s reform ambition: Hadja Lahbib About the remaining message, Miller said, “EU is looking to reinforce its partnership with Bangladesh on all its dimensions.” He said they are working to support the reform ambition of the interim government in conducting the election in line with expectations of its own citizens as expressed last year and the ongoing manners. Later, CEC AMM Nasir Uddin said the EU wants to see an election to be held in line with international standards. “They want a free, fair and credible election. It is also our promise towards the nation. We also want it too.” He said his commission is working neutrally. “We’re working in a very transparent way.”  He said the EU actually came to the EC to know the EC’s preparation for the upcoming national election. “We also informed them about our works and preparations we are doing for the next election,” he said. EU keen to exchange “good practices, preparedness strategies" with Bangladesh Nasir Uddin said the EU delegation asked the EC whether it had enough money to conduct the election. But the EC replied that there is no problem about money as it has already sent a budget proposal to the government in this regard, he said. “They clearly informed us that they are ready to assist us in every way possible,” said the CEC.

European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday and discussed a range of issues relating to Bangladesh’s upcoming election, democratic transition and foreign investment. The hour-long meeting, which began around 3:30pm, was held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. Some people trying to undermine national unity: Fakhrul BNP Standing Committee members Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Organising Secretary Shama Obed were also present at the meeting. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Khosru said the discussions focused on Bangladesh’s electoral roadmap, necessary reforms, the economy, and other issues vital to the country’s current context.