United News of Bangladesh

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet on Monday underlined that French companies want to develop their presence in Bangladesh and need a business-friendly environment in this context. He, together with the Heads of EU diplomatic missions, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and discussed issues of mutual interest. The Ambassador felicitated the Minister for his new assignment and expressed the commitment of France to deepening the long-standing partnership with Bangladesh and developing new common initiatives. France, Bangladesh share common vision for peace, multilateralism: French Ambassador The Minister thanked the EU for the concrete support it extended to Bangladesh through the electoral observation mission, which played an important role in the general elections. He emphasised the importance of EU-Bangladesh relations and the new government's desire to facilitate exchanges in all fields.

France will summon U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner to protest remarks by the Trump administration regarding the fatal beating of a far-right activist, the French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Saturday. Barrot’s statement came after the U.S. State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau posted on X that “reports, corroborated by the French Minister of the Interior, that Quentin Deranque was killed by left-wing militants, should concern us all.” France rushes to avert US-style government shutdown after budget talks fail Deranque, a far-right activist, died last week in Lyon from brain injuries sustained during an attack linked to a scuffle at a student meeting, where far-left lawmaker Rima Hassan was the keynote speaker. The incident has fueled concerns over rising political tensions ahead of France’s next presidential election. President Emmanuel Macron urged calm as around 3,000 people marched in Lyon in tribute to Deranque, organized by far-right groups. Barrot condemned attempts to politicize the tragedy, saying, “We reject any instrumentalization of this tragedy, which has plunged a French family into mourning, for political ends. We have no lessons to learn, particularly on the issue of violence, from the international reactionary movement.” The State Department’s post described “violent radical leftism” as a growing threat and said the U.S. will monitor the situation and expect justice for those responsible. Seven individuals have faced preliminary charges. Six were charged with intentional homicide, aggravated violence, and criminal conspiracy, while a seventh was charged with complicity in the same crimes, the Lyon public prosecutor’s office said. France plans new aircraft carrier amid boost in defense spending Barrot also plans to raise U.S. sanctions against former EU commissioner Thierry Breton and French ICC judge Nicolas Guillou, calling them “unjustified and unjustifiable.” The Foreign Affairs Ministry has not announced a date for the meeting. Kushner had previously been summoned in August last year over a letter to Macron accusing France of insufficient action against antisemitism; French officials met with his representative after the ambassador did not attend.

France’s radical left has come under intense political pressure following the death of a university student in Lyon, with government ministers blaming militants linked to the far-left for the fatal attack. Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old mathematics student and nationalist activist, died on Saturday, two days after he was beaten in a street assault. Lyon state prosecutor said a murder investigation has been opened, adding that Deranque was punched and kicked by at least six people and suffered fatal injuries to his skull and brain. The attack followed a confrontation on Thursday linked to a small protest in Lyon against a visit by a left-wing politician to the Institute of Political Studies, also known as Sciences Po. Deranque had gone to support the hard-right feminist collective Némésis, which was staging the demonstration. According to prosecutors, there was an initial clash between two opposing groups. Later, Deranque and two other nationalist activists were chased and cornered. Mobile phone footage from nearby streets showed three young men being attacked by a larger group, with one left lying on the ground. Senior figures in President Emmanuel Macron’s government directly blamed the far left. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the violence was clearly carried out by far-left militants, while Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said there was no doubt about who was responsible. The killing has put the radical left party France Unbowed under scrutiny, along with a banned militant group known as La Jeune Garde, which has previously provided security at left-wing rallies. Members of Némésis claimed they recognised activists from La Jeune Garde among those who disrupted their protest, though the group has denied involvement. The demonstration was directed against a meeting involving LFI European lawmaker Rima Hassan, who condemned the violence and called for a full investigation. She said the security present during her visit was provided by her party and had no role in the clashes. Deranque’s family lawyer said the student was not part of any security detail and had never been involved in violent activity. Friends described him as a practising Catholic who had become active in nationalist politics in recent years. Right-wing politicians strongly attacked LFI, accusing it of encouraging violence by so-called anti-fascist militants. European lawmaker Marion Maréchal said responsibility lay with the radical left, while others said the killing reflected a climate of hatred. LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon rejected the accusations, saying his party had nothing to do with the incident. He expressed sympathy for Deranque’s family and said LFI opposes all forms of violence. No arrests have yet been made, and investigators say efforts to identify the suspects are continuing as political tensions rise ahead of key local elections next month.   With inputs from BBC

Canada and France are set to open diplomatic consulates in Greenland on Friday, marking a historic expansion of foreign engagement in the Arctic territory, officials said. A Canadian delegation led by Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand will formally inaugurate Canada’s first diplomatic outpost in Nuuk, accompanied by a Canadian Coast Guard vessel. French officials are scheduled to open their consulate on the same day. Governor General Simon, Canada’s Crown representative, said in a pre-trip statement that Canada “stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will determine their own future.” The visit also underscores the cultural and ethnic connections between Canadian Inuit and Greenlandic Inuit, Simon’s own Inuk heritage highlighting these longstanding ties. Until this week, only Iceland and the United States maintained formal diplomatic missions in Greenland. The opening of Canadian and French consulates is viewed as a strategic move amid former US President Donald Trump’s prior remarks suggesting the US should “own” Greenland for national security purposes. Trump later softened his stance, citing ongoing discussions with Denmark, European allies, and Canada. The Canadian consulate had been planned since early 2024 under Ottawa’s review of its Arctic policy but was delayed due to weather. The opening now comes amid increasing focus on Arctic security and infrastructure, with Canadian officials noting the proximity of Nuuk to Iqaluit in Nunavut, and the broader significance for regional cooperation. Inuit leaders, including Natan Obed of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said the consulate represents years of advocacy to strengthen ties with Greenland and emphasized concern over US threats, given historical colonization and recent geopolitical tensions. Approximately 50 Canadian Inuit are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony. Foreign Minister Anand described Arctic defence as “an unquestionable national security priority,” highlighting Canada’s ongoing investments in northern infrastructure and a year-round military presence. During the visit, Anand will meet with Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, while Simon will meet Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. The consulate openings signal continued NATO ally support for Greenland amid past US claims and reinforce Canada’s strategic presence in the Arctic.   With inputs from BBC

FIFA has overhauled the 2026 World Cup draw format to ensure the four highest-ranked teams  like Spain, Argentina, France and England avoid each other until the semifinals, provided they top their groups. The draw, set for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will use a tennis-style bracket system for the first time. FIFA confirmed Tuesday that the new format rewards top-ranked sides by placing them in separate pathways for the 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The change means defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, and European champions Spain, inspired by Lamine Yamal, can only meet in the final at MetLife Stadium near New York, if both win their respective groups. “To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semifinals have been established,” FIFA said in a statement, aiming to reward teams whose consistent good results have raised their world ranking. Unlike previous World Cups where knockout paths were tied to group allocation, the new approach fixes the bracket in advance. This year’s draw will place 48 teams into four pots before assigning them to 12 groups of four. A full, updated match schedule, with stadiums and kickoff times, will be released on December 6. The ceremony will last about 90 minutes, with the draw itself taking an estimated 45 minutes. As hosts, Canada, Mexico and the United States enter Pot 1, joined by the nine highest-ranked teams: Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Forty-two teams have already qualified, including Iran and Haiti, which FIFA expects to play as drawn despite political sensitivities with the U.S. The tournament will span 16 venues across the three host nations, including 11 NFL stadiums in the U.S. The remaining six entrants will be decided in March through European and intercontinental playoffs. Those teams will enter Pot 4, the lowest-ranked tier, meaning four-time champions Italy could prove a dangerous wildcard next week when the final placing draw is made. Host nations will be marked with different colored balls: Mexico as A1 (green ball), Canada as B1 (red ball), and USA as D1 (blue ball). The other nine Pot 1 teams will automatically be assigned to position 1 in their respective groups. Pot 2 features the next 12 teams: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria and Australia. Pot 3 includes Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Pot 4 contains Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand and the six playoff winners. Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn together, except for Europe, which will have 16 representatives, forcing four groups to include two UEFA nations. To maintain bracket balance, Spain (rank 1) and Argentina (rank 2) will be placed in opposite pathways. The same applies to France (rank 3) and England (rank 4), ensuring the top sides stay separated until late. For the host schedules, the USA, placed in Group D, will open on June 12 in Inglewood against a Pot 3 team, then face a Pot 2 opponent in Seattle on June 19, and finish against a Pot 4 side back in Inglewood. Mexico, in Group A, will kick off the tournament on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca against a Pot 3 team, then play a Pot 2 team on June 18 in Guadalajara, before returning to Mexico City for their final group match against a Pot 4 opponent. Canada starts on June 12 in Toronto against a Pot 4 team, then moves to Vancouver for matches against Pot 3 and Pot 2 sides. World Cup draw pots: Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Playoff A, B, C, D, FIFA Playoff Tournament 1 and 2 Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.    

FIFA has overhauled the 2026 World Cup draw format to ensure the four highest-ranked teams  like Spain, Argentina, France and England avoid each other until the semifinals, provided they top their groups. The draw, set for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will use a tennis-style bracket system for the first time. FIFA confirmed Tuesday that the new format rewards top-ranked sides by placing them in separate pathways for the 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The change means defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, and European champions Spain, inspired by Lamine Yamal, can only meet in the final at MetLife Stadium near New York, if both win their respective groups. “To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semifinals have been established,” FIFA said in a statement, aiming to reward teams whose consistent good results have raised their world ranking. Unlike previous World Cups where knockout paths were tied to group allocation, the new approach fixes the bracket in advance. This year’s draw will place 48 teams into four pots before assigning them to 12 groups of four. A full, updated match schedule, with stadiums and kickoff times, will be released on December 6. The ceremony will last about 90 minutes, with the draw itself taking an estimated 45 minutes. As hosts, Canada, Mexico and the United States enter Pot 1, joined by the nine highest-ranked teams: Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Forty-two teams have already qualified, including Iran and Haiti, which FIFA expects to play as drawn despite political sensitivities with the U.S. The tournament will span 16 venues across the three host nations, including 11 NFL stadiums in the U.S. The remaining six entrants will be decided in March through European and intercontinental playoffs. Those teams will enter Pot 4, the lowest-ranked tier, meaning four-time champions Italy could prove a dangerous wildcard next week when the final placing draw is made. Host nations will be marked with different colored balls: Mexico as A1 (green ball), Canada as B1 (red ball), and USA as D1 (blue ball). The other nine Pot 1 teams will automatically be assigned to position 1 in their respective groups. Pot 2 features the next 12 teams: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria and Australia. Pot 3 includes Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Pot 4 contains Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand and the six playoff winners. Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn together, except for Europe, which will have 16 representatives, forcing four groups to include two UEFA nations. To maintain bracket balance, Spain (rank 1) and Argentina (rank 2) will be placed in opposite pathways. The same applies to France (rank 3) and England (rank 4), ensuring the top sides stay separated until late. For the host schedules, the USA, placed in Group D, will open on June 12 in Inglewood against a Pot 3 team, then face a Pot 2 opponent in Seattle on June 19, and finish against a Pot 4 side back in Inglewood. Mexico, in Group A, will kick off the tournament on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca against a Pot 3 team, then play a Pot 2 team on June 18 in Guadalajara, before returning to Mexico City for their final group match against a Pot 4 opponent. Canada starts on June 12 in Toronto against a Pot 4 team, then moves to Vancouver for matches against Pot 3 and Pot 2 sides. World Cup draw pots: Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Playoff A, B, C, D, FIFA Playoff Tournament 1 and 2 Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.  

Bangladesh have climbed three places in the latest FIFA rankings, following a spirited draw against Nepal and a statement victory over regional rivals India. The year-ending rankings, released by FIFA within 24 hours of the close of the men’s international break, kept Spain firmly at the top. Bangladesh played two matches during the November FIFA window. Javier Cabrera’s side began with a 2–2 draw in last Thursday’s friendly against Nepal, before sealing a memorable 1–0 victory over India on Tuesday in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. The results propelled Bangladesh to 180th position, a three-step rise from their previous ranking. India, by contrast, slid six places and now sit 142nd after the defeat. Spain, meanwhile, confirmed their place in next year’s World Cup with one win and one draw across two fixtures. Although they dropped a few points, the 2010 world champions remain atop the global standings. Argentina also held their ground, staying second after a 2–0 victory over Angola in their only match this month. There was no movement in the next two spots either, with France retaining third place and England anchored in fourth. Both sides enjoyed flawless campaigns in this month’s World Cup qualifiers, winning two matches each. Brazil had a mixed outing with a 2–0 win over Senegal followed by a 1–1 draw against Tunisia. The five-time world champions nonetheless climbed two places to fifth. Portugal and the Netherlands each slipped one spot, moving down to sixth and seventh respectively. Belgium remain eighth, while Germany and Croatia rose one position each to ninth and tenth. Italy endured another setback, falling three places to 12th. The four-time world champions, absent from the past two World Cups, now face renewed pressure as they look toward the playoffs to keep their 2026 hopes alive.    

Democratic countries around the world want a democratic order to be restored in Bangladesh soon through a fair election, so that they can work more closely with it, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Thursday (November 13). “Democratic countries around the world want to see a democratic order restored in Bangladesh soon through a credible election as it will make it easier for them to cooperate with Bangladesh. They are clearly conveying this message,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to reporters after newly appointed French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. New French envoy meets Fakhrul The hour-long meeting, which began around 12pm, was held at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan. Amir Khosru, BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed were also present at the meeting. Khosru said the election was naturally a topic of discussion during the meeting and the French side wants the election to be held as soon as possible. “They emphasised that an early election would create opportunities to advance various areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and France. They expressed hope that the election could take place in the first half of February,” he said. The BNP leader said several important issues were discussed in detail during the meeting. “One of them was how Bangladesh-France relations might take shape under a new government and the direction the relationship is heading,” he said. Khosru said the French side shared their thoughts on this, and both sides talked about the possible areas of future cooperation. He said the discussion particularly focused on expanding collaboration between the two countries in trade, investment and other areas, especially in the creative industry. Tarique warns against political volatility, urges election participation Khosru said France is well-known for its rich film, music, art, and cultural heritage, mentioning that renowned Bangladeshi artist Shahabuddin Ahmed also lives in France. “Alongside trade and investment, we discussed the possibility of major cooperation in the creative industry, which is a key part of our future economic and cultural programme. If our party comes to power, we plan to work closely with France in this sector,” he said.  

Newly appointed French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday (November 13) and discussed Bangladesh’s current political situation and the upcoming national election. The hour-long meeting began around 12pm at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. EU Ambassador meets Mirza Fakhrul, discusses polls BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed were also present at the meeting. Sayrul said the two sides discussed matters of mutual interest, including the political situation, election preparations, and investment in Bangladesh, as well as ways to strengthen bilateral and economic relations between Bangladesh and France in the future. Read more: Tarique warns against political volatility, urges election participation

French Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh, M. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, has encouraged Bangladeshi students seeking to study abroad to consider France as a destination offering top-quality education, affordable tuition fees, and a vibrant international environment. He made the remarks while speaking at the “Choose France Tour” at the Alliance Française de Dhaka on Monday.  The two-day event, now in its second edition, will conclude on Tuesday in Chattogram.  Highlighting the growing interest from French universities in Bangladeshi students, the ambassador noted that while ten universities participated in last year’s event, twelve are taking part this year. Addressing concerns about language barriers, the ambassador said, “Let me reassure you that you can live in France nowadays as most people in big cities speak English. Universities also offer courses entirely in English, so it is not an issue.” Bangladesh seeks regional cooperation, truth platforms to counter dis/misinformation According to Campus France Bangladesh , the French government agency hosting the event, students from Bangladesh can choose from nearly 1,700 English-taught programmes across a range of disciplines, including business, management, engineering, sciences, law, social sciences, and the arts.