The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has said that no decision has been made yet regarding the repatriation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Toufique Hasan, Director General of the Public Diplomacy Division and the MoFA spokesperson, said that the issue is political in nature and any decision will come from the highest authorities within the government. Hasan said that the ministry had not received any instructions regarding the matter and that it would likely be discussed in the upcoming Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultation (FOC). He explained that while media reports had circulated on the issue, the MoFA was not aware about any official discussions and would act in accordance with government decisions. Hasan also shared updates on several diplomatic efforts being pursued by Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultation, reiterating that the FOC will be the first step in that direction. Responding to questions from journalists about international pressures on domestic political matters, Hasan denied any external influence on Bangladesh's internal affairs, particularly regarding the Awami League. He said that no foreign government had raised concerns or made requests about banning the political party. Bhutanese envoy meets Fakhrul, discusses Saarc revival The spokesperson also talked about the ongoing situation involving Bangladeshi nationals detained in the UAE following protests in July. He said the ministry continues to monitor these developments closely and will provide further updates as the situation progresses.

The government has taken an initiative to ensure safe return of Bangladeshis who got stuck in troubled Lebanon, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment are working together for the return of Bangladeshis trapped in war-torn Lebanon. The government is working closely with all concerned to bring back all the Bangladeshis who wish to return from Lebanon safely, said the MoFA. Khurshed Alam will carry out Foreign Secretary’s routine activities until further notice: MoFA An inter-ministerial meeting has already been held with the participation of Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, Expatriates’ Welfare Secretary Md Ruhul Amin and Managing Director & CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited Dr. Md. Shafiqur Rahman. Bangladesh Mission Heads assigned to the Middle East joined the meeting on the Zoom platform. The Foreign Secretary has issued necessary instructions to the Bangladeshi ambassador in Lebanon to take necessary measures for the safe return of Bangladeshis stranded in Lebanon. He also gave necessary instructions to ensure the safety of all the expatriate Bangladeshis staying there who do not want to come to the country. Already, a notification has been issued to enroll Bangladeshis who wish to return from the embassy and initially about a thousand migrant workers are said to be willing to return home.

In a somber announcement on Tuesday (February 20, 2024), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) revealed the identities of eight Bangladeshis who met a tragic fate while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The individuals, embarking on an unauthorized voyage from Libya to Europe, drowned in a devastating incident that underscores the perilous journey faced by many seeking a better life abroad. The victims, identified as Sajal, Nayan Biswas, Mamun Seikh, Kazi Sajeeb, Kaisar, Rifat, Russell, and Imrul Kayes Apon, hailed from the Madaripur and Gopalganj districts of Bangladesh. Specifically, the first five victims originated from various villages within the Rajoir upazila of Madaripur, while the remaining were from Muksudpur upazila in Gopalganj. Read more: Out of options, Rohingya fleeing Myanmar and Bangladesh by boat despite soaring death toll The details were shared in a press release distributed by MoFA, which aimed to shed light on the tragic event and its impact on the victims’ communities. The ill-fated journey began on February 13, when a boat carrying individuals from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, and Syria set sail from a Libyan coastal area with hopes of reaching Europe. The group comprised 27 Bangladeshis, 8 Pakistanis, 3 Egyptians, 5 Syrians, and an Egyptian individual who navigated the boat. However, their aspirations were cut short when the vessel capsized off the Tunisian coast in the early hours of February 14. Rescue operations later recovered the bodies of the eight Bangladeshis and one Pakistani, which were subsequently transferred to local hospitals. The foreign ministry's report further highlighted that among the Bangladeshi victims, seven were traveling without passports, indicating the desperate measures taken by individuals in pursuit of better opportunities. Read more: Bangladesh wants to boost cooperation with Libya to curb illegal migration

The government of Bangladesh has said it expects that the local undemocratic forces that resort to violence, arson and destruction would remain cautious and refrain from their misguided efforts to jeopardize the electoral process as mandated by the Constitution. It is entirely up to the people of Bangladesh to sustain the hard-earned democratic process, political stability and development gains in the country, said the government in a statement. Read more: Nothing to worry about new US visa policy; don't want arson, violence: Momen "The government appreciates that the international community including the US firmly stands by Prime Minister’s sustained commitment to ensure free and fair elections," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday (May 25, 2023) while responding to new visa policy announced by the US government. The government apparatus will take necessary measures to prevent and address any unlawful practices or interference by any individual, group or entity to compromise the smooth and participatory conduct of the elections, MoFA said. The electoral process will remain under strict vigilance, including by international observers as accredited by the Election Commission, it said. Read more: New US visa policy declared targeting next Bangladesh polls The government of Bangladesh has taken note of the announcement made by the US Secretary of State on a visa restriction policy pursuant to the so-called 3C provision under the US Immigration and Act. "Bangladesh would like to view this announcement in the broader context of its government’s unequivocal commitment to holding free and fair elections at all levels for upholding the country’s democratic process," MoFA said. Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, Bangladesh remains a democratic and politically stable nation with experience of holding a series of elections at national and local levels, said the government. Read more: New visa policy to be implemented fairly on govt & oppn: Donald Lu Since the general elections in 2008, it is evident that the people of the country experienced unprecedented socio-economic development and empowerment due to continued political stability under the Awami League government. This resulted in the reduction of headcount poverty from 41.5% in 2006 to 18.7% in 2022, and of extreme poverty from 25.1% to 5.6% during the same period. Now an "international role model" for development, Bangladesh has become eligible for graduation from the UN Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026. These have been achieved due to the Awami League government being elected to office for three consecutive terms over the last fourteen years. The people of Bangladesh are very much conscious of their democratic and voting rights, MoFA said. Read more: US govt’s new visa policy does not bother Bangladesh government: Shahriar Alam There is no precedent for any government to continue in office having usurped people’s mandate through vote rigging, it said. The people’s right to franchise is considered a State sanctity by the Awami League government that has a political legacy of unrelenting struggles and sacrifice for securing that right. The government attaches importance to freedom of assembly and association for all peaceful and legitimate democratic processes. The electoral reform process in Bangladesh continues in a consultative manner involving all concerned stakeholders, MoFA said. As part of the process, photo-based voter ID cards were issued in response to the 10.23 million fraudulent voters enlisted by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government. Read more: New visa policy to help PM Hasina's govt in holding fair elections: US The use of transparent ballot boxes has also been made the norm to establish confidence among the electorate as well as the polling officials and agents. The National Election Commission continues to be equipped with the wherewithal to carry out its functions in full independence, credibility and efficiency, MoFA said. The present government took the initiative for the first time to get the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022 enacted by the National Parliament. Pursuant to this law, a new Election Commission has been constituted. Read more: Bangladesh's upcoming national polls will be under AL govt: PM Hasina  As mandated by the Bangladesh Constitution and Representation of the People Order, 1972, the entire executive machinery will remain at the Election Commission’s disposal to assist in the discharge of its responsibilities in a way as it may direct, MoFA said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) recently arranged a webinar on how rivers are legal, living persons with rights. Justice Md Ashraful Kamal, who delivered the judgment on the River Turag in 2019, presented the keynote at the "Legal Personhood of River." He highlighted the importance of the landmark ruling by the High Court Division that granted "legal personhood" to all rivers, declaring that all rivers in Bangladesh are entitled to legal protection under the Public Trust Doctrine (PTD). The judgment also included 17 key directives to the executive for dealing with river pollution and encroachment issues and for the survival of rivers as continuing ecosystem elements. "Because of these directives, river polluters have been banned from participating in the elections, the National River Conservation Commission as the 'guardian' of all rivers has been established, and polluters have been barred from receiving bank loans among other measures," Ashraful said. The concept of the legal personhood of the river is based on the legal recognition of the planetary ecosystems and other non-human entities as legal persons who have legal rights to protect the environment. Proponents of the concept say that legal systems should recognise the inherent value of the environment, including its survival as well as its enrichment. This means that certain entities cannot be harmed, corrupted or degraded without their consent. Sustainable rivers: Dhaka for 'just sharing' of waters, basin-wise river management For example, granting personhood status to ecosystems and animals can lead to greater protection from environmental degradation as well as a stronger voice in environmental decision-making. Against this backdrop, diplomats, scholars and activists are pushing to give nature legal personhood, with some countries such as Ecuador and Bolivia recently passing laws recognising the rights of nature. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said with the remarkable verdict Bangladesh had joined a growing number of communities, tribal nations, and countries, in securing a new form of legal protection for nature which recognises that nature is a living entity with legal rights. Syed Muntasir Mamun, director general of International Trade, Investment and Technology and ICT wings of MoFA, highlighted how the verdict is very much in line with Bangladesh's strong commitment to upholding the rights of all and maintaining the autonomy and agency of the human ecosystem under the guardianship of the public. Read more: HC delivers landmark verdict, declares Turag as living being

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said the government needed to inform foreign missions in Dhaka that there is no room for “misinformation” and “confusion” “It is nothing new. It falls within the normal diplomatic practice as we always do that and keep all informed when something major happens,” he told reporters, noting that BNP’s plan to create anarchy centering its December 10 rally “didn’t work”. Alam said BNP is spreading propaganda at home and abroad and they had chosen December 10 as major countries announced new sanctions on December 9. BNP tried to block major Dhaka streets from December 7, he added. Read more: Tension over Dec 10 rally: Momen says govt doesn’t want conflict, will maintain maximum restraint The government will not allow deliberate violence and vandalism that are threats to public security, the state minister said. He said BNP invested millions of dollars and pounds on lobbyists who assured the party that there will be more sanctions. “Centering this, they were in a celebratory mood and wanted to prove that the government does not have any friends,” Alam said. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) offered BNP the permission to hold their public rally at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan that has enough space for a large gathering. Alam said that BNP did not accept the venue, as it did not go with their spirit, and they did not have the ability to bring people in large numbers. Read more: US Embassy issues alert for its citizens in Bangladesh He said politics is “not like a picnic” and it is not acceptable to block streets and disrupt public movement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 12 shared a “non-paper on recent political situation in Bangladesh” with all foreign missions and office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka. Assessing the possible implications on security, public safety, safety of properties, public mobility and overall law-and-order situation in the capital ahead of Victory Day on December 16, the historic Suhrawardy Udyan was offered.  “Presumably, BNP leaders wanted to make a political issue out of the venue. Their objective was to create anarchy on the busy public street as they did in 2014 and 2018 before the national elections,” the MoFA note reads. Read more: UN reminds Bangladesh of commitments to free expression, peaceful assembly It mentioned that the BNP wanted to take common people under hostage situations to make their unlawful demand. BNP plotted to use the constitutional right to peaceful assembly with unlawful and violent intentions, according to the document seen by UNB. According to police, cocktails were also found in the BNP party office. The circumstantial evidence shows that the actual plan of the BNP was to occupy the street forcefully and unlawfully three days prior to the scheduled public gathering, according to the MoFA document. Later BNP agreed on an alternative venue (Golapbagh Math) for their December 10 rally, and the meeting went peacefully without any major incident. “This reflects the government’s willingness and efforts to ensure freedom of expression and assembly,” reads the document.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe and lodged a strong protest against Myanmar’s mortar shells inside Bangladesh territory a day earlier. "We have lodged a strong protest with Myanmar so that such incidents do not happen again. We have also strongly condemned the incident," Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read: Canada's contribution to Bangladesh's development historic: GM QuaderHe said a note verbale was handed over to the ambassador.On Sunday, the foreign secretary said it will first be investigated whether the firing of unexploded mortar shells on the Bangladesh border was an accident or intentional.Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) stepped up its vigilance along Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Bandarban area after two Myanmar mortar shells landed in an area near Tambru under Naikkhangchhari in Bandarban on Sunday afternoon.Locals got panicked seeing the mortar shells which remained unexploded.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Monday organised a discussion to remember and mourn the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family on August 15, 1975. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen chaired the session discussion at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. Sheikh Kabir Hossain, trustee of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust, spoke as the chief guest. Read: Momen to countries sheltering Bangabandhu’s killers: 'It's very unfair:' State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam spoke at the event as a special guest. Lawmaker Md Abdul Majid Khan and eminent writer Professor Anwara Syed Haque also spoke. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen delivered the welcome remarks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Technical and Madrasa Education Division on Tuesday jointly organized the second webinar on “Role of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh Missions in Technical Education and Technology Transfer”. Md Kamal Hossain, Secretary of Technical and Madrasa Education Division, joined as the chief guest in the webinar. Ambassadors and High Commissioners, senior officials of the Technical and Madrasa Education Divisions, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh Missions abroad participated in the virtual meeting. Through the "MoFA Telegram Series", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken initiatives for greater exchange of views between Bangladesh Missions abroad and various government Ministries, divisions, departments and other private institutions in the country. It is expected that through this telegram series it will be easier to coordinate the execution of various functions at the government and private levels and important issues can be resolved easily, said MoFA. In the webinar, the Secretary of the Technical and Madrasah Education Division highlighted the structure of his department, ongoing projects, initiatives taken and future plans. Read: MoFA creating data-driven intelligent architecture for faster service across globe: FS He mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given importance to technical education and for this reason the work of setting up one technical education institute in each Upazila is going on. Also, the government is building technical training institutes with modern facilities in 100 Upazilas of Bangladesh. He mentioned that initiatives have been taken to build four new Engineering Colleges and four Women Polytechnic Institutes are being constructed for the expansion of women's education. The Secretary of Technical and Madrasah Education Division also mentioned that various institutions have adopted several language teaching measures to improve the linguistic skills of the students. Md Kamal Hossain shed light on modernization of technical and madrasa education, addition of emerging technologies in the curriculum of technical education, agreements with various foreign institutions regarding training, introduction of internationally recognized evaluation certificates in Bangladesh for the acceptance of certificates issued by educational institutions of Bangladesh and he sought the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh Missions to achieve modern technology in Bangladesh. The webinar was conducted by the Director General (International Trade, Investment and Technology) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Syed Muntasir Mamun. Ambassadors/High Commissioners of Bangladesh appointed in Bahrain, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, Director General of Technical Education Directorate, Director General of Madrasa Education Directorate also spoke at the meeting. The participants present in the meeting expressed their conviction for the development of technical and madrasa education system in keeping with the modern world.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is creating a data-driven intelligent architecture for better and faster service across the globe.  He made the remarks while addressing a town hall meeting on "Innovation & E-Governance" in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.  The Foreign Secretary highlighted several initiatives taken by the Ministry: securing the access of E-Nothi and D-Nothi for the Ministry and Bangladesh Missions abroad, introducing ibas++ in 20 Bangladesh Missions Abroad in the FY 2021-22, building Digital Archive system for the Ministry, introducing GRP in the Headquarters and all Bangladesh Missions abroad, and hosting "MoFA Telegram Series" for disseminating ideas on innovation, entrepreneurship and administration.  He shared the present and future initiatives of his Ministry.  Read: EU wants full implementation of labor roadmap for trade facility Masud said identical websites were launched on 07 July 2022 across all Bangladesh Missions.  Now the website of the Ministry and all the Bangladesh Missions Abroad have the same outlay customised to the unique needs of the mission.  The Ministry digitalised 34 Consular services and 28 internal services with the help of MyGov team from the a2i.  The Foreign Secretary also mentioned that the Ministry is working on building a Neural Network for ensuring Data Driven Mechanism, setting up an innovation lab, creating a trade portal for promoting domestic products and services, securing stronger remittances, creating a platform for innovation and entrepreneurship, networking for technical expertise, setting up a call centre and introducing Artificial Intelligence for data analysis.  He also spoke on market expansion for Bangladeshi products, communal harmony, human trafficking, public private partnership, and refugee issues.  Masud emphasised on a more active role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deal with the new challenges of the changing world (such as Ukraine crisis, energy crisis, Covid pandemic etc.) and stressed on the need for partnerships with other public and private institutions.  The Foreign Secretary expressed hope that there is no reason the Foreign Office of Bangladesh will lag behind any of the Foreign Offices of the world.  Read: Dhaka urges Jakarta to do more for repatriation of Rohingya refugees He said the knowledge, wisdom, patriotism, dedication, determination and enthusiasm of the young officers will shape the future of Bangladesh. Young diplomats of the Ministry especially the officers at the rank of Senior Assistant Secretary and Assistant Secretary participated the meeting with great enthusiasm and expressed their opinions and ideas on various issues. Director General (ICT & ITIT) Dr. Syed Muntasir Mamun moderated the meeting.  Director General (Administration), Director General (General Services) and other high officials of the Ministry attended the meeting.