United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated the fifth edition of the international forum ‘Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026’, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, researchers and experts from over 100 countries. The three-day conference, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), is being held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka from October 3 to 5. The Prime Minister formally opened the three-day event around 10am with his address to the opening session. More than 200 speakers, over 300 delegates and more than 1,000 participants are expected to attend the forum, including former and current heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, military experts, academics, researchers, journalists, business and investment leaders, human rights defenders, technology specialists and representatives of international development organisations. Former Serbian President Boris Tadić and former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara are among the notable participants. The theme of this year’s conference is “Fragments, Frontiers and Futures”, with the tagline “Navigating Power, Technology and Trust in a World Rewritten.” The discussions will focus on major regional and global issues, including geopolitics and security, technology, trade and connectivity, climate change, human security, democracy, governance, trust, spirituality and humanity. CGS President Zillur Rahman and Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi delivered the welcome remarks at the opening of the conference. Zillur Rahman said the Bay of Bengal is becoming increasingly important in the context of maritime security and regional geopolitics. “As a vital link between South Asia and Southeast Asia, one of the key objectives of this initiative is to explore effective solutions to the challenges and opportunities rooted in the Bay,” he said. He said this year’s discussions would focus on geopolitics, security, trust, climate change, spirituality and humanity. The programme includes public sessions such as plenaries, leadership forums and spotlight talks, as well as smaller invitation-only roundtables for in-depth discussions, according to the organisers.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday headed to Feni on his first visit to the district since taking office, with several development and public welfare programmes on his daylong  itinerary. The Prime Minister’s motorcade left his Gulshan residence for Feni by road at around 8:40am, said PM’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. The Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Dhaka in the evening after completing his daylong programmes in Feni, he said. The Prime Minister’s maternal grandfather, Eskandar Majumder, hailed from Majumder Bari at Sripur village of Fulgazi upazila in Feni. Feni-1 is also the constituency represented by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who was elected to Parliament from the seat several times since 1991. The constituency therefore holds special significance for local people. The slogan, “Netri moder Khaleda, gorbo moder alada” (Khaleda is our leader, our pride is unique), is still frequently heard among BNP leaders and activists in the area. Prime Minister’s programmes At 12:30pm, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate Muhuri-Kohua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Rehabilitation (Phase I) project at Kheya Ghat area near the Muhuri Bridge in Parshuram upazila. He will inaugurate a tree-planting programme on the premises of Begum Khaleda Zia Women’s College in Fulgazi at 1:30 pm. Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the supply of electricity to the national grid from the rooftop solar facility installed at the Fulgazi District Council Dak Bungalow at 2 PM. At 3:30pm, he will attend a programme at Fulgazi Government Pilot High School ground for distributing Family Cards and Farmer Cards and providing honorariums to imams, muezzins and people serving in other religious institutions. The Prime Minister will offer Zuhr prayers and have lunch at Fulgazi Dak Bungalow. Earlier, as part of his election campaign, Tarique Rahman addressed an election rally at Feni Pilot High School ground on January 25 while travelling from Chattogram to Dhaka.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Feni on Thursday, joining several programmes in Parshuram and Fulgazi upazilas throughout the day. It will be his first visit to Feni since becoming the Prime Minister. Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Md. Suzauddhowla (Sujon Mahmood) said the prime minister will leave his Gulshan's residence for Parshuram upazila by road at 8:30am. He will attend the inauguration and exchange-of-greetings programme for the rehabilitation of the Muhuri-Kohua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project (Phase I) on the outskirts of Parshuram upazila and the Kheyaghat Ghat-Muhuri Bridge area around 12:30pm. Tarique Rahman will attend a tree-planting  programme on Begum Khaleda Zia Women’s College premises in Fulgazi at 1:30pm. Then he will visit the Fulgazi District Council Dak Bungalow and inaugurate the operation to supply electricity to the national grid from the rooftop solar power system installed there. He will later rest and offer prayers at the Dak Bungalow. The prime minister will attend a programme at Fulgazi Government Pilot High School field at 3:30 PM for distributing Family Cards and Farmer Cards and providing honorariums to mosque imams, muezzins, khadims and people working at other religious places of worship. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Muhuri-Kohua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project (Phase I) project in Parshuram on June 16 at an estimated cost of Tk 1,542.16 crore. Under the project, rivers and water bodies will be re-excavated, flood-control embankments rehabilitated, riverbanks protected and irrigation infrastructure renovated. The project includes rehabilitation of 67.92 kilometres of embankments, protection of 11.73 kilometres of riverbanks, re-excavation of 83.50 kilometres of rivers and water bodies, rehabilitation of 27 irrigation structures and construction of 77 inlets. In the next phase, there are plans to construct new embankments along the Muhuri and Kohua rivers, as well as construct embankments along the Silonia River and carry out its excavation and rehabilitation. The project is expected to be completed by 2030. The prime minister’s visit to Feni was originally scheduled for September 17 but was later postponed and rescheduled for October 1.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman resumed work at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday on his return from four-day visit to the United Nations General Assembly. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a farewell call on the Prime Minister at the Secretariat in the morning. Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Mostafa Zulfiquar Hasan, said United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Alhmoudi is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister around noon. The PM is scheduled to chair the cabinet meeting around 4pm at the Secretariat. Issues discussed during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to the United States are also likely to be discussed at the Cabinet meeting.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left New York for Dhaka on Friday night after a five-day visit to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, during which he delivered his maiden address at the UNGA and held a series of bilateral and high-level meetings on Bangladesh’s key national and global priorities. An Emirates flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage left John F Kennedy International Airport at 11:35pm local time for Dubai, said Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. The flight is scheduled to reach Dubai at 8pm on Saturday and depart for Dhaka at 2am on Sunday, with the Prime Minister expected to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:40am the same day. PM held 30 programmes, including bilateral meetings with 11 countries, during NY visit: Mahdi At JFK Airport, Tarique Rahman and Zubaida were seen off by Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Khan, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam and senior officials of the UN mission and embassy. A number of expatriate BNP leaders and activists also gathered outside the airport terminal to see the Prime Minister off. Tarique Rahman arrived in New York on September 21 to attend the UNGA, leading a 35-member delegation that included Zubaida, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Shama Obaed Islam and Irene Khan. During the visit, the Prime Minister addressed the UN General Assembly General Debate for the first time, presenting Bangladesh’s positions on global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, humanitarian crises, economic cooperation and the Rohingya crisis. 'A state can never become strong by keeping citizens powerless': PM sounds out Bangladesh’s return to democracy In his September 24 address, Tarique Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for the UN’s efforts to promote global peace and humanity and called for conflicts to be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy and mutual cooperation. He also outlined the government’s three-R strategy — Recovery, Restoration and Reconstruction — for rebuilding Bangladesh, and said the government wants to establish a prosperous, self-reliant and welfare-oriented democratic state through political and economic empowerment of the people. On the Rohingya crisis, he said safe and dignified repatriation to Myanmar is the only lasting solution and called for stronger international support to create conditions conducive to their return. During the visit, he met UN Secretary-General António Guterres, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, International Peace Institute President and CEO Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman. Tarique Rahman also held bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Maldives Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef. He separately met Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. The meetings covered bilateral relations, trade and investment, manpower, energy, economic cooperation and regional and international issues. At a meeting with Turkish President Erdogan, the two sides discussed expanding Bangladesh-Türkiye trade and investment and exploring new areas of economic cooperation. Tarique Rahman also discussed strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation with the prime ministers of Bhutan and Haiti and the vice president of the Maldives, while his meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic focused on trade and investment, economic partnership, skilled manpower, education, technology and cooperation in multilateral forums. During the visit, Bangladesh also signed an agreement with Boeing for Biman Bangladesh Airlines to purchase 11 jets as part of efforts to expand the country's aviation sector and open new international routes. The Prime Minister participated in high-level events on the Rohingya crisis, sea-level rise, climate action and a just transition, and the integration of midwifery into primary healthcare to prevent maternal and newborn deaths. At the high-level event on sea-level rise, he called for stronger global action to reduce emissions, predictable and accessible adaptation finance, wider use of climate-resilient technologies and greater international cooperation. At the climate action event, Tarique Rahman called for collective global action to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure predictable climate finance for vulnerable countries. The Prime Minister and Zubaida also attended a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for world leaders and their spouses on September 22 and a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump for heads of state and government attending the UNGA. On September 23, the Prime Minister attended a breakfast meeting with representatives of the Gates Foundation, Visa Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, International Rescue Committee and Rotary International, where humanitarian challenges, international cooperation, climate change, sustainable development and economic partnership were discussed. He also met Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman to discuss public health, child healthcare, vaccination, affordable vaccines, preventive healthcare and modernisation of the health system. On the final day of his visit, Tarique Rahman attended a breakfast meeting hosted by JPMorgan Chase at its Manhattan headquarters with Wall Street representatives. Telling investors that “Bangladesh is open for business”, he highlighted opportunities in energy, infrastructure, logistics, technology, digital services, climate finance, manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh aims to build a 1-trillion-dollar economy by 2034 and become a globally connected manufacturing, investment and services hub. He later held bilateral meetings with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. PM’s Adviser and PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said earlier Friday that Tarique Rahman held 30 formal programmes, including 11 bilateral meetings with countries, during the visit. He said Bangladesh’s national interests, trade and investment, manpower export, energy security, regional cooperation, the Rohingya crisis, healthcare, climate change and global peace featured prominently in the meetings and programmes. Mahdi said the Prime Minister attended eight programmes directly linked to the UN General Assembly and four high-level side events, while also meeting heads of international organisations and other dignitaries. “Altogether, the Prime Minister and members of his delegation represented Bangladesh at around 80 different programmes during the four-day visit,” he said. The Prime Minister arrived in New York on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to address the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today (Thursday). He will deliver the speech in Bangla at 5:00pm local time (3:00am Bangladesh time on Friday), Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin said at a briefing in New York on Wednesday. This will be Tarique Rahman’s first address to the UN General Assembly since becoming prime minister on February 17 after the BNP won the 13th parliamentary elections with an outright majority. Mahdi said his address will mark a new chapter as he follows in the footsteps of his father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and mother, late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who also addressed the UNGA earlier. “The Prime Minister will deliver his speech in Bangla, reflecting the emotions, aspirations and expectations of the people of Bangladesh,” he said. Tarique Rahman arrived in New York on September 21 on his first visit to the United States as prime minister. Earlier, he visited Malaysia and China on his first two state visits.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed the Middle East conflict and the safety of Bangladeshi workers, while seeking Iran’s cooperation in facilitating the movement of Bangladeshi vessels and containers through the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin briefed journalists on the meeting at a press briefing later in the day at the Hyatt Grand Central New York hotel. Kobir said the Prime Minister called for an early resolution of the conflict through diplomacy, stressing its potential impact on Bangladesh, particularly on Bangladeshi expatriate workers and the country’s energy security. Bangladesh has a significant number of workers and professionals in the Middle East, and any prolonged conflict in the region could have an impact on the country, he said. The state minister also said Bangladesh raised the issue of containers and vessels being held up amid the tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and sought Iran’s cooperation in facilitating their safe movement once the situation improves. “We called for a quick resolution through diplomacy,” he said, adding that the Iranian President listened to Bangladesh’s concerns and took note of them. Kobir said Bangladesh maintains a neutral position and is prepared to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability if there is an opportunity. “Bangladesh can become a soft-medium influence for good, for peace and stability in the world,” he said. The state minister said Bangladesh has important partners across the Middle East, and some of them have encouraged Bangladesh to use its neutral position to communicate with parties involved in the conflict. He said Bangladesh does not necessarily need to take a visible mediation role, but can engage as a friend of the region and contribute to peace and stability through diplomatic channels. “The UN is a neutral venue,” Kobir said, referring to the meeting with the Iranian President at the UN Headquarters. He said the Prime Minister used the opportunity to discuss both the conflict and Bangladesh’s national interests, including the possible impact of the situation around the Strait of Hormuz on the country’s energy supply and trade. The state minister said Bangladesh wants an early and peaceful resolution to the conflict through diplomacy, as a prolonged crisis could have wider regional and international consequences. Mahdi said the meeting also focused on regional stability, the safety of Bangladeshi workers in the broader Middle East and issues related to regional and international peace. He said the Prime Minister emphasised Bangladesh’s national interests, particularly the safety and well-being of its expatriate population. The meeting took place as part of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s engagements on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih held a high-level meeting on Tuesday to discuss a sustainable solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis and the safe, voluntary and dignified return of the displaced people to Myanmar. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s place of residence at the Hyatt Grand Central New York hotel, according to a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. They discussed creating a conducive environment for the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar and the need for an effective and coordinated role by the international community to help resolve the crisis. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh had been hosting a large number of Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds for years and that there is no alternative to their safe and dignified return to their homeland for a lasting solution to the crisis. He stressed the need for stronger and more coordinated international efforts to facilitate their repatriation. The two sides also stressed the importance of continuing humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas and strengthening international cooperation to expedite the repatriation process. Barham Salih appreciated Bangladesh’s humanitarian role in hosting the Rohingyas and underscored the importance of continued international cooperation to find a sustainable solution to the crisis.  

Police have detained a youth  Sylhet city over allegations of posting abusive and derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Facebook. The detainee was identified as Mehedi Ahmed, 21, a resident of Noagaon Sadipur area under Kotwali Police Station in Sylhet city. According to police sources, a team led by Sub-Inspector Shimul Chowdhury of Kotwali Police Station conducted a raid at Mehedi’s residence on Friday night and detained him. Police said Mehedi had been using obscene and offensive language against Tarique Rahman in Facebook posts for a long time. Following a complaint filed with the police station, he was identified with the help of information technology and subsequently detained, police said. Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mainul Zakir Chowdhury said a person has been detained over allegations of making derogatory remarks on Facebook about the Prime Minister. “He is being questioned. Legal proceedings are underway,” he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday accorded a reception to four Bangladeshi Hafizs who won prizes at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Quran Competition held in Saudi Arabia, saying the government will recognise the achievements of citizens who excel through their merit and ability. “You have not only brought this achievement for yourselves. I believe it is an achievement of all Muslims in Bangladesh,” the Prime Minister said while speaking at a reception for the prize-winning Hafizs at the Cabinet Division conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Congratulating the winners, he also said it was the government’s policy to recognise the achievements of talented citizens. “Almost all of you have mentioned that Hafizs have been encouraged and honoured after a long time. This is a policy of the present government that when the children of the country, who are the future of the country, achieve something good through their ability and merit, the government will try to recognise that achievement from the state’s position,” Tarique said. He said encouraging talented people and properly assessing their merit would certainly benefit future generations and the country. Tarique said the government has been trying to encourage talented and qualified people since taking office, and inviting the prize-winning Hafizs to the reception was part of that effort. Teachers of the prize-winning Hafizs raised some of their problems with the Prime Minister. Tarique said he would discuss the issues with the relevant minister and explore possible solutions. “You have mentioned some problems. We will see, InshaAllah, whether there is any way to solve them and, if so, what that way is. We will certainly try to do whatever is possible from our side,” he said. The Prime Minister also assured them of government support for participation in future international competitions. “There may be more such competitions ahead. If government support is needed to participate in such competitions in the future, you will inform us through the proper channels. We will take whatever measures are possible from the government’s side,” he said. Tarique said he wanted Bangladeshi boys and girls to participate in such international competitions and bring honour and glory to themselves, the country and its people.