United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam will undertake an official visit to Spain and the United Kingdom from October 26 to 30 to deepen economic partnerships and promote cultural diplomacy. The two-nation visit reflects Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening economic diplomacy, attracting investment, and expanding cultural cooperation with European partners, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday. During the visit, Shama will meet dignitaries from various institutions to explore cooperation in trade, investment, business, tourism, skills development, and cultural exchange, with a view to further strengthening bilateral ties. The visit will begin in Seville, Spain, where the state minister will inaugurate the 3rd Spain-Bangladesh Expo 2026 on October 26. Organised by the Spain-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SBCCI) under the theme “Stronger Partnership, Shared Prosperity,” the expo aims to connect Bangladeshi exporters with Spanish manufacturers, importers and investors. Following her engagements in Spain, Shama will travel to the United Kingdom for a visit from October 29 to 30. Her engagements in the UK will focus on promoting Bangladeshi art and culture, expanding international cultural partnerships, and exploring opportunities to develop the country’s creative economy.

Around 7,500 Bangladeshis are currently imprisoned in different parts of Saudi Arabia, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Friday. “More or less 7,500 Bangladeshis are in different jails in Saudi Arabia on various charges. We are checking whether the names of the two Bangladeshis who were executed recently are on the list,” she told the media. The state minister was speaking after the body of Bangladeshi worker Md Shahed Ahmed Ashik, who was killed in a Houthi missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was handed over to his family at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. “We have not received detailed information about the executions. We have officially requested the Saudi authorities to provide copies of the verdicts. We will be able to learn more once we receive them,” she said. Shama Obaed said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not work alone to resolve issues concerning expatriate Bangladeshis, as the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Home Affairs are also involved in dealing with legal matters. “When we learn that any Bangladeshi has been sentenced in Saudi Arabia, we communicate with the Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels to seek a reduction in the sentence or explore whether there is any process for a pardon,” she said. The state minister said the government does its best to protect Bangladeshi nationals while respecting the judicial systems of other countries. “We will definitely not interfere in the judicial system of another country, but the government does its best to save its nationals whenever it learns of such cases,” she said. “The problem is that we were not informed of the sentences imposed on the two Bangladeshis who were executed,” Shama Obaed added. Two Bangladeshi nationals – Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Sweety Akter – were recently executed in Saudi Arabia. They had been detained in the country since August 2023 on separate charges, according to a confidential document sent from the Labour Welfare Wing of the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment on October 18. According to the document, the Saudi authorities did not inform the Bangladesh Embassy or the consulate before the executions, nor did they formally notify them afterwards about the executions. The information about the execution emerged from Saudi media reports citing a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Interior on October 14. According to the Saudi ministry’s statement, as reported in local media, the executions took place in the Makkah region. They were accused of committing “indecent acts” inside a mosque in the holy city of Makkah.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday acknowledged that the conflict could have an immediate impact on remittances as many Bangladeshi workers in the Middle East have lost their jobs, while some have been forced to return home and others are struggling to remain in the region without employment. Such disruptions could affect remittance inflows, she said, noting that Saudi Arabia alone hosts more than three million Bangladeshis. Responding to a question after attending a seminar, Shama, however, expressed optimism that the government would be able to overcome the challenges in the long run by exploring new overseas employment markets. The Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working to identify new destinations for Bangladeshi workers.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Saturday said Bangladesh wants to pursue its foreign policy independently while remaining open to cooperation with the international community. “We don't want to be a chessboard for other players to play. We want to play on our own terms. We are ready to negotiate, collaborate and partner with the rest of the world with our head held high,” she said. Speaking at a panel discussion titled “A World Rewritten: Power, Technology and Trust in the Age of Uncertainty” as part of the three-day Bay of Bengal Conversation, the State Minister said Bangladesh is now in a position where it is holding its head high. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman spoke as the chief guest at the inaugural session. Former President of the Republic of Serbia Boris Tadić, Distinguished Professor at Illinois State University, USA, Ali Riaz, Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangladesh Alexander Falck-Bilden, Member of Parliament of Montenegro Gordan Stojović, and Editor-at-Large of TIME Magazine, Singapore, Charles Thomas Campbell took part in the first panel discussion. “But of course, remembering that the most important thing in our foreign policy is the interest of our people,” Shama said. Seeking broader international cooperation to resolve the Rohingya crisis, she said Bangladesh wants to cooperate with countries across South Asia, Asia and beyond as part of its economic diplomacy. “As far as economic diplomacy goes, we believe in collaborating and working with all the nations in South Asia, Asia, and elsewhere. We want to collaborate with everyone. We want Bangladesh to become a hub because we have the demographic dividend,” she said. “We have the people, and when we talk about power, I believe our people is our power,” Shama said.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Wednesday said Bangladesh will take all necessary legal and diplomatic steps under existing laws to bring back convicted fugitives including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and those sentenced to death in the latest verdict. She said the Foreign Ministry would initiate the required process with the Indian government once it officially receives all necessary documents related to the verdict delivered on Tuesday. “Look, this is an ongoing process. I should not and do not wish to comment on the legal aspects,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Tuesday sentenced seven people including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader to death for their roles in suppressing the July 2024 mass uprising through incitement, provocation, attacks and killings. Regarding the Foreign Ministry's responsibility, Shama said, “We are taking and will continue to take all necessary steps under existing laws to extradite convicted criminals, including the former Prime Minister of the fascist government and those sentenced yesterday (Sept 15).” She said efforts are underway under the extradition treaty to bring back the former home minister, the former prime minister and the killers of martyr Hadi, who are currently detained in India. “Official correspondence is being exchanged,” she said. “Since the verdict was delivered just yesterday (Sept 15), once we officially receive all the necessary paperwork, we will contact the Indian government through due process to take whatever steps are required,” said the State Minister. The government will certainly take all legal measures needed to bring the accused back to face justice, she added. Asked whether Bangladesh has received any response from India to its earlier letter seeking the extradition of former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Shama said diplomatic communication is ongoing. “We have not yet received a definitive answer from India,” she said. “However, from what we understand, they may have their own internal legal procedures to follow, and they are carrying out that process. These efforts will continue until we successfully bring them back to Bangladeshi soil,” she added. Indian media outlet The Print claimed that India has not yet given its approval to Bangladesh for the appointment of Asad Alam Siam as Dhaka’s next High Commissioner at New Delhi though the process to appoint new High Commissioners and Ambassadors by Dhaka for various foreign postings began in July. Asked about media reports in Bangladesh and India, Shama urged the media not to publish such reports without official confirmation. “I would request everyone not to pay heed to or publish such news reports until an official statement or concrete information is issued by either the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Government of India,” she said. On an inter-ministerial meeting held on Tuesday regarding Bangladeshis travelling abroad with forged documents and false information, the State Minister said the government is working to streamline the migration process for the large number of Bangladeshis living abroad. “Ever since the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed the government, we have been working on how to streamline and consolidate the migration process for the vast number of Bangladeshi citizens living abroad,” she said. The State Minister noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already taken several initiatives, including opening a dedicated Migration Wing.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Saturday said the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly will provide Bangladesh, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with a major opportunity to highlight its national interests, economic potential and development priorities on the global stage. "It marks a new journey, a new possibility and a new aspiration," she said while addressing a discussion titled "Upcoming UNGA and Branding of Bangladesh" as the chief guest, organised by the Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi (Centre for NRB), a non-profit research organisation for expatriate Bangladeshis. Prime Minister Tarique is scheduled to attend the UNGA for the first time since the establishment of the new democratic government. Following the government's "Bangladesh First" foreign policy, Tarique Rahman is set to present Bangladesh to the international community as a democratic, confident, responsible and promising nation. The high-level segment of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to begin in New York on September 21. She said Bangladesh should no longer be portrayed internationally merely through floods, disasters or the repatriation of undocumented migrants. "Bangladesh has opportunities in tourism, business and investment, and it has the potential to be presented properly on the world map. We are trying to brand Bangladesh in the right way. The government alone cannot do everything; all of us must work together," the State Minister said. She said the significance of the session is heightened by the fact that Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman will preside over the General Assembly. "This is definitely a matter of pride for Bangladesh," Shama said, noting that Bangladesh's success in the election came despite Cyprus having worked for more than a decade to secure the position. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur is now in New York and will take up his responsibilities as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly soon, a tenure that will coincide with a crucial period for the world body, including the selection of a new UN secretary-general. The 81st session of the General Assembly will formally open on September 8, with world leaders expected to gather at UN Headquarters in New York later in the month for the annual high-level general debate. The State Minister credited Bangladesh's diplomatic efforts, including those undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh's mission in New York, as well as the country's stability and democratic government, for playing an important role in the victory. "Therefore, considering all these aspects, this upcoming session will be extremely important for us," she said. PM to Attend Special UN Session on Rohingya Crisis On the Rohingya crisis, Shama said a dedicated session would be held during the UN General Assembly with the participation of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. She said the crisis has become increasingly complex because of the involvement of the Myanmar authorities, the Arakan Army, regional actors and competing international interests. "In fact, the problem has deepened. A regional complication has been created. Without international pressure, resolving this problem will become very difficult," she said, urging Bangladeshis abroad and civil-society representatives to help mobilise international support for a sustainable solution. The State Minister said the Rohingya crisis is a big problem for Bangladesh. "But it's not Bangladesh's problem. The problem was not created by Bangladesh." The State Minister also highlighted Bangladesh's reputation at the UN, particularly for its contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. Turning to the government's economic priorities, Shama said economic diplomacy is a major component of the government's manifesto. She said the government inherited what she described as a "broken economy" and a "broken banking sector" and that restoring the economy and bringing it onto a sound footing would take time. She said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been working from the outset to improve transparency and accountability in the banking sector and create a more investor-friendly environment for both foreign investors and non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs). "We want to create an environment where our Bangladeshis will return to invest, and foreigners will also invest here," she said. The government is also working to simplify investment procedures through digital services and a one-stop mechanism so that investors do not have to visit multiple government offices for different services, she said. Shama said the government is expanding online facilities for registration, company name registration and other procedures to make doing business easier. She also highlighted the "One Citizen, One Card" initiative, under which information currently held by different government agencies would be consolidated into a single database and linked to one card for each citizen. The State Minister placed particular emphasis on protecting Bangladeshi migrant workers and curbing illegal migration. She said the government holds expatriate Bangladeshis and remittance earners in high regard, but illegal migration facilitated by broker networks remains a serious concern. Bangladeshi migrants have been falling victim to broker cartels while attempting to travel through dangerous routes, including the Mediterranean, under false promises of employment in countries such as Italy and Spain, she said. "We are addressing this issue, and the current Prime Minister has taken direct action," Shama said. She said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working closely with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to tackle illegal migration. For the first time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a dedicated Migration Wing to address illegal migration and issues faced by Bangladeshi expatriates, she said. The government is also focusing on sending skilled workers abroad through more effective vocational training and skills development, with the aim of ensuring dignified and legal employment for both men and women, she said. Shama urged the NRB community to help raise awareness among potential migrants about the risks posed by illegal migration and broker networks. The State Minister said government agencies have begun working at the grassroots level, identifying districts where illegal migration is more prevalent and coordinating with local administrations to tackle the problem. She said the government is working to simplify visa procedures, including provisions relating to visa-on-arrival, and that the revised policy is expected to be placed before Parliament. "Everything the Prime Minister is doing aims to make Bangladesh more investment-friendly," she said. Shama also stressed the importance of economic diversification, particularly in the energy sector, in view of recent global conflicts and disruptions. The State Minister highlighted the government's focus on the Blue Economy, saying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a dedicated Maritime Wing working on the sector. She also pointed to the introduction of the Creative Economy as a new sector in this year's budget. The sector, she said, will provide particular opportunities for women entrepreneurs and help bring Bangladesh's art, cottage industries, handicrafts and cultural heritage into the mainstream economy while promoting them internationally. Centre for NRB Chairperson M S Shekil Chowdhury said the organisation arranged the programme as part of its annual World Conference Series to showcase Bangladesh's positive developments to the international community. He said the series also seeks to deepen Bangladesh's global engagement and encourage expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in the country and remit their earnings through legal channels.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Tuesday said the government is committed to ensuring human rights for all citizens and will not allow anyone to be unjustly detained or imprisoned for political reasons, regardless of their political affiliation. “The government will definitely ensure that no one is unjustly imprisoned or detained due to political vendetta,” she said, stressing that the commitment applies to supporters of all political parties including the opposition and the Awami League which faces a ban on its activities. Shama Obaed made the remarks when a journalist drew her attention regarding a recent statement of Human Rights Watch (HRW). Bangladesh authorities should immediately take steps to end the prolonged pretrial detention of politicians and others linked to the deposed Awami League government, the New York-based rights body said on August 23. It said police detained thousands of party officials, activists, and supporters after Sheikh Hasina was forced to step down as prime minister in August 2024 following weeks of protests, and hundreds remain in prison without being charged with any crime.    Shama Obaed said Bangladesh witnessed unprecedented human rights violations over the past 17 years, with BNP leaders and activists among the worst affected. “The kind of human rights that have been violated in Bangladesh in the last 17 years has never been violated in the history of Bangladesh,” she said. “The biggest victim is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, its leaders and activists,” she added. Shama Obaed said the government does not want to see a return of what she described as the “fascist era” and wants minimum human rights to be guaranteed to every citizen. “We will never want the past fascist era to return now or in the future. We want all human rights - minimum human rights - to be ensured to every citizen,” she said. Referring to cases filed following the July-August events in 2024, the State Minister said the government has taken a position that allegations must be properly reviewed and that legal action should be based on evidence rather than political considerations. She said cases have been filed against people accused of killings as well as those responsible for ordering enforced disappearances and murders. “Many cases were filed with great enthusiasm. But the Law Ministry said that they would review those cases,” Shama Obaed said. “If they review the cases and do not find any truth in them, if there is no basis, they will take action accordingly,” she added. Shama Obaed said the government’s responsibility is to protect citizens’ rights and ensure that justice is not used as an instrument of political revenge. “Our government's stand is that we are trying to protect human rights. We are responsible to the people,” she said. She stressed that the government’s human rights commitment should extend to political opponents as well as its own supporters. “No party - be it the opposition party, Awami League, or any party - the current government will definitely ensure that no one is unjustly imprisoned or detained due to political vendetta,” Shama Obaed said. She said ensuring due process and protecting citizens from arbitrary detention would be essential to preventing a recurrence of past abuses and building public confidence in the country’s institutions. The State Minister Bangladesh’s current foreign policy is centred on protecting its own national interests while maintaining respectful and balanced relations with all countries. “Our foreign policy is first and foremost a ‘Bangladesh policy’... with equal rights with everyone and maintaining our own interests with respect,” she said. Shama Obaed expressed confidence that Bangladesh’s stronger political mandate would give it greater leverage in negotiations with international partners, including China. “When Bangladesh is talking, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is talking, then all the other stakeholders including China are listening to our words with more attention, more seriously,” she said. The State Minister said the present circumstances therefore offer Bangladesh a stronger negotiating position than before. “Now that Bangladesh is an elected government, we have a stronger position in our negotiation space,” Shama Obaed said.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Tuesday said Bangladesh hopes to leverage its upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA) presidency to strengthen international pressure for a political solution to the Rohingya crisis, which she said has grown increasingly complex, with security and other challenges requiring stronger global engagement. “The matter is absolutely a political problem, it is a very sensitive matter and we need to solve this problem politically,” she told reporters, stressing that the Bangladesh government is in official and unofficial communication and dialogue with all stakeholders in Myanmar to solve this problem. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed said unfortunately the Rohingya crisis has become more intense and the government is currently trying to solve this problem. Bangladesh seeks to step up international pressure on Myanmar to find a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis and expressed hope that the country’s strengthened diplomatic position will help advance the issue. “We are trying to involve the international community more,” Shama Obaed said, pointing to an upcoming high-level UN session on the Rohingya crisis where Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to participate. The Stated Minister said Bangladesh also needs to explore whether the Muslim world can exert greater pressure on Myanmar to create momentum for resolving the crisis. Shama Obaed said an important high-level session on the Rohingya issue is expected to be held at the United Nations next September, where Bangladesh hopes to secure clearer guidelines for moving towards a solution. “First of all, I must say that when the Rohingya influx started in 2017, the fascist government that was in power at that time could not play a strong role in solving the Rohingya problem, it failed. If they could have done that properly and involved the international community, then maybe we could have moved towards solving the problem within four-five years, since it started. That did not happen,” she said. The State Minister said a new government has come in place in Myanmar and there is the Arakan Army and other stakeholders in Rakhine State. She said the internal political situation in Myanmar is also very complicated now and there are many problems along the borders - security problems, various types of crimes being heard - human smuggling, drug trafficking, etc. The State Minister said no one can say the exact number of Rohingyas now because more or less people are still coming every day and an average of 30,000 children are born there every year. “So in that case, we don't know the exact number right now, but it will definitely be over 1.3 million.” During the recent visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to China, the Chinese President said very strongly that he will try to solve this problem and will cooperate with Bangladesh, she said. On the memorandum of arrangement concerning the Rohingya issue, Shama Obaed expressed scepticism about its likely impact unless the UN and other key stakeholders become more actively involved. However, she said Bangladesh now has an additional diplomatic advantage through the position of its Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman as president of the UN General Assembly (likely from September 8). “Now the UN and other stakeholders... and we have an added benefit or a power that now the President of the UNGA is our Foreign Minister,” Shama said. She said Bangladesh should use the position more effectively to amplify its voice internationally. “From that place, we have a power to speak for Bangladesh in the international community. We think that at least in the next year, we will be able to use this capacity a little better,” she said. Shama Obaed also contrasted the current diplomatic environment with that of the previous government, accusing the then government of failing to exert sufficient pressure on China in pursuing a trilateral arrangement involving China, Bangladesh and Myanmar. “The then government was not trying, I repeat,” she said, referring to efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis through the trilateral framework. She argued that the previous government lacked the political legitimacy and strength to put effective pressure on China. Shama Obaed said Bangladesh’s current foreign policy is centred on protecting its own national interests while maintaining respectful and balanced relations with all countries.  

Amid a changing global labour market scenario, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday emphasised that “protection abroad must begin with prevention at home.” Drawing on experiences from her constituency, she expressed concern over irregular migration, human trafficking and migrant smuggling, as well as emerging forms of recruitment fraud, including those facilitated through digital platforms. The State Minister made the remarks while speaking at a meeting titled “Renewed Government Initiative for Ensuring Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration”, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Md. Nurul Haque, and PM’s Adviser on the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Mahdi Amin attended the meeting as special guests. She discussed the government’s renewed emphasis on strengthening migration governance by enhancing linkages between Bangladesh’s international commitments, national policies and grassroots-level realities. She stressed the importance of aligning skills and training with employment opportunities in destination countries, diversifying labour markets and expanding regular migration pathways.  

Urging the international community to shoulder the Rohingya responsibility together, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday said Bangladesh’s humanitarian generosity must not become an excuse for international inaction. “Bangladesh can provide shelter. Bangladesh can provide humanitarian assistance. Bangladesh can help preserve dignity, but Bangladesh cannot resolve the crisis that Bangladesh did not create,” she said. The State Minister made the remarks while addressing a dialogue titled “Rohingya Crisis Entering 10 Years: From Humanitarian Response to Sustainable Solutions”, as the chief guest jointly organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) and Oxfam in Bangladesh. She said resolving the protracted Rohingya crisis is a political and moral responsibility that the international community must collectively shoulder, stressing that Bangladesh cannot be left alone to bear the burden.