United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday said Singapore has long had a proposal for a Bay Terminal at Chattogram Port, which came up for discussion during her recent visit to the country. "You know that the Singapore government has had a proposal for a Bay Terminal at our Chattogram Port for a long time. They have talked about that," she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Shama Obaed said they also visited one of the projects where they have a waste-to-energy and they have shown how they produce energy by managing waste. During her first official visit to Singapore, the State Minister met Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and its State Minister for Foreign Affairs Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim separately and discussed issues of mutual interest. She also visited the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), where she met Regional CEO, Middle East, South Asia, Africa and Türkiye, PSA Vincent Ng, and senior officials. The State Minister was briefed on PSA’s global operations and its use of automation and advanced technologies to develop efficient, sustainable and smart ports. Vincent Ng expressed PSA’s interest in participating in the Bay Terminal project in Bangladesh, noting its potential to significantly enhance Chattogram Port and Bangladesh’s trade and connectivity, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister welcomed PSA’s interest and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation in port development, logistics, technology transfer and capacity building, in line with Bangladesh’s priorities of industrialisation, infrastructure development and connectivity. "We discussed ways to deepen cooperation, including expanding trade and strengthening our energy partnership. We are also making good progress on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, which will create more opportunities for businesses in both countries," said the Foreign Minister of Singapore. He said Singapore and Bangladesh share a longstanding partnership and close people-to-people ties. Bangladesh and Singapore on Tuesday expressed hope for the early conclusion of the Bangladesh-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and emphasised stronger business-to-business engagement. The two countries also exchanged views on energy security, including risks to energy supplies, shipping and global supply chains, as well as climate change, water security, and illegal and irregular migration.

Bangladesh and Singapore on Tuesday expressed hope for the early conclusion of the Bangladesh-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and emphasised stronger business-to-business engagement. The two countries also exchanged views on energy security, including risks to energy supplies, shipping and global supply chains, as well as climate change, water security, and illegal and irregular migration. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam met Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and its State Minister for Foreign Affairs Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim separately; and discussed issues of mutual interest. She also visited the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) and met Vincent Ng, Regional CEO, Middle East, South Asia, Africa and Türkiye, PSA, and senior officials. The State Minister was briefed on PSA’s global operations and the use of automation and advanced technologies to develop efficient, sustainable and smart ports. Vincent Ng expressed PSA’s interest in participating in the Bay Terminal project in Bangladesh, noting its potential to significantly enhance Chattogram Port and Bangladesh’s trade and connectivity, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister welcomed PSA’s interest and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation in port development, logistics, technology transfer, and capacity building, in line with Bangladesh’s priorities of industrialisation, infrastructure development and connectivity. "We discussed ways to deepen cooperation, including expanding trade and strengthening our energy partnership. We are also making good progress on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, which will create more opportunities for businesses in both countries," said the Foreign Minister of Singapore. He said Singapore and Bangladesh share a longstanding partnership and close people-to-people ties. At the outset, the State Minister of Bangladesh met the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Singapore. During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction with the longstanding and friendly relations between Bangladesh and Singapore and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation. The discussions focused on trade, investment, and economic cooperation. The State Minister highlighted Bangladesh’s potential to diversify exports to Singapore beyond RMG, including pharmaceuticals, ceramics, agro-products, and jute and jute products, and invited greater Singaporean investment in logistics, supply chains, renewable energy and research. Both sides also discussed opportunities to deepen economic cooperation.    

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Tuesday said Bangladesh is placing strong emphasis on developing skilled manpower, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman giving special attention to technical and vocational education and training (TVET). She made the remarks during a meeting with Dinesh Vasu Dash, Singapore’s Minister of State for Manpower and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth. Shama Obaed said Singapore, as a pioneer in skills development and capacity building, could support Bangladesh in these areas and proposed greater cooperation between the relevant agencies of the two countries, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, she highlighted the strong and long-standing relations between Bangladesh and Singapore. The state minister said the government of Bangladesh is committed to fairness, good governance and creating better opportunities for its people. She also highlighted the important role of the large Bangladeshi community in Singapore. Dinesh Vasu agreed that both countries share common interests in promoting skilled manpower. He suggested that the relevant government agencies of Bangladesh and Singapore could establish closer contact and work together. The Singaporean state minister also appreciated the contribution of Bangladeshi migrant workers to Singapore and mentioned that they are generally disciplined and responsible. In response, Shama Obaed said Bangladesh is also focusing on language proficiency for Bangladeshi expatriates and encouraging them to learn a third language. She informed that women constitute around half of Bangladesh’s population and have significant potential to work in the care and nursing sectors. The state minister proposed that Singapore could consider providing relevant training for Bangladeshi nurses who could come to Singapore as caregivers for elderly people. She also proposed cooperation between major public hospitals in Bangladesh and Singapore, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Singapore General Hospital and National University Hospital, in areas of mutual interest. The two sides also discussed the recruitment of migrant workers. Dinesh Vasu expressed concern about the costs and fees involved in the recruitment process. In response, Shama Obaed said the government of Bangladesh is determined to reduce recruitment costs and regulate and streamline recruiting agencies. She proposed that Bangladesh and Singapore could explore ways to jointly monitor recruitment practices, including the role of intermediaries and travel agencies, to make the recruitment process more transparent, accountable and affordable. Dinesh Vasu briefed Shama Obaed on Singapore’s initiatives to improve migrant workers’ accommodation. He said the government of Singapore has introduced major initiatives to upgrade migrant worker dormitories and enforce stricter housing standards. The Singaporean state minister added that their government continues to balance the demand for migrant workers with the availability of suitable accommodation. The Bangladesh state minister appreciated these initiatives and expressed gratitude to the government of Singapore for its prompt action to arrange re-employment and compensation for around 200 Bangladeshi workers who recently lost their jobs following the bankruptcy of three companies in Singapore. Dinesh Vasu encouraged migrant workers to report cases of unpaid wages to the Ministry of Manpower so that the authorities can take appropriate action and provide the necessary assistance and compensation. He also appreciated the positive role of Bangladeshi workers in Singapore’s community programmes and celebrations, noting that their participation contributes to racial and social harmony in Singapore. Shama Obaed invited Dinesh Vasu to visit Bangladesh. She said there are many opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in engaging young people and building their skills. She also suggested that a Singaporean team from the relevant agencies could visit Bangladesh to explore possible areas of cooperation. Nodding positively to this proposal, Dinesh Vasu, in view of his additional portfolio as Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, expressed interest in exploring opportunities for further cooperation in these areas. The Bangladesh state minister also sought Singapore’s support for Bangladesh’s aspiration to become a Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). She said Bangladesh is giving greater importance to soft diplomacy, particularly cultural and sports diplomacy. Shama Obaed informed that the government of Bangladesh has allocated a budget for the creative economy in the current fiscal year. She also proposed establishing a youth centre in either Dhaka or Singapore to facilitate the exchange of innovative ideas and promote cooperation among young people. The state minister further highlighted Bangladesh’s focus on joint ventures, investment and entrepreneurship. She said Bangladesh is working to create a more investment-friendly environment and provide a hassle-free business environment through measures such as one-stop services. She also highlighted the importance of ensuring a secure and safe environment for investors. In this connection, Dinesh Vasu mentioned the presence of Singaporean businesses in Bangladesh, referring to the Singapore-based restaurant chain named “Fish & Co”, which recently opened in Dhaka. Shama Obaed also highlighted the importance of cultural and economic diplomacy and greater people-to-people engagement between Bangladesh and Singapore. She said Bangladesh is keen to expand cooperation in these areas and create new opportunities for both countries. Both sides expressed their readiness to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of skilled manpower, vocational training, migrant worker welfare, youth development, investment, culture and people-to-people connectivity.

Sharif Osman bin Hadi, the fiery face of the July Uprising, convenor of Inqilab Moncho and a prospective candidate for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, is no more. He passed away on Thursday at 9:45 pm while receiving medical treatment in Singapore. The Inqilab Moncho official Facebook page announced the news Thursday night, stating, “In the struggle against Indian hegemony, Allah has accepted the great revolutionary Osman Hadi as a martyr.” Hadi was critically injured on December 12 when assailants opened fire on him while he was traveling in a rickshaw near the water tank in Bijoynagar, Dhaka. Two individuals on a motorcycle approached his rickshaw, and one of them shot him at close range before fleeing the scene. He was initially taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Evercare Hospital for advanced ICU care.

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and its Burn centre, the only specialised facility managing major burn injuries in Southeast Asia, sent a senior consultant to Dhaka within 24 hours of the Milestone tragedy. He was followed by three colleagues who reached on Wednesday and five more are arriving Thursday. "We’re grateful for both words and deeds," said Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi on Thursday. Earlier on July 23, Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong wrote Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, expressing solidarity with the people of Bangladesh. BAF aircraft crash: Five victims identified through DNA test "Singapore stands in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh during this period of mourning," Prime Minister Wong wrote to Prof Yunus. “We are committed to Bangladesh through this difficult period and have sent a medical team from the Singapore General Hospital to treat those injured by this tragic incident. I wish them a speedy recovery,” Wong wrote to the chief adviser in a letter.

Bangladesh found themselves trailing 1-0 to Singapore at halftime in Tuesday’s match at the National Stadium. Despite passionate home support that filled the venue with chants and celebratory atmosphere hours before kickoff, the hosts struggled to find their rhythm in a difficult opening 45 minutes. Bangladesh, featuring debutant Shamit Som alongside key players Hamza Chowdhury and Fahamidul Islam, began the match assertively. In the opening twenty minutes, Fahamidul and Shakil Ahad generated several scoring opportunities. However, forward Rakib Hossain could not convert these chances. Singapore also created threats but failed to capitalize on early openings. By the 30-minute mark, the score remained level. Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma made a critical save from a Singaporean captain’s shot. For Bangladesh, Rakib narrowly missed a connection with a well-delivered pass from Shamit Som, who consistently initiated attacks. Women's Tri-nation Football: Bangladesh force higher ranked Jordan to play 2-2 draw Despite Som’s efforts, the team struggled with finishing. The match also saw Fahamidul Islam receive the first yellow card for a foul, and Tariq Kazi sustained two separate impacts, resulting in a bleeding lip. The deadlock broke in the 44th minute. Singapore penetrated the Bangladeshi defense. Goalkeeper Mitul failed to clear a punched ball, and following rapid exchanges inside the box, Singapore's Song Ui Young found the net. Hamza Chowdhury's late defensive sprint could not prevent the goal. AFC Asian Cup : Bangladesh to play home match against Singapore Tuesday At halftime, the scoreboard read Bangladesh 0, Singapore 1.

Bangladesh will play their home match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers against Singapore at the freshly renovated National Stadium in Dhaka Tuesday ( June 10) evening . The Group C match of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers between hosts Bangladesh and touring Singapore will kick- off at 7 pm (Bangladesh time)  while India will play their Group C away match against hosts  Hong Kong at the newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park, also on June 10 . Bangladesh team conceded 1-2 goal defeat against Singapore in home match in 2015.  After the first round Group C matches, all the four teams -- Bangladesh, Hong  Kong, India and Singapore--have secured one point each after playing goalless draw with each other. Ahead of the Tuesday' s battle, the morale of  Bangladesh national football team is now high than previous occasions with the inclusion of two Bangladesh origin highly rated booters--English Premier League playing defensive midfielder Hamza Dewan Chowdhury and Canadian national team and premier league playing midfielder Shamit Sho AFC U-23 Asian Cup: Bangladesh put in Group C with Vietnam, Yemen, Singapore   me.   The Italian league playing Bangladesh origin forward Fahamedul Islam, who made his debut for Bangladesh against Bhutan in the FIFA International friendly last week, also have chance to play against Singapore in Tuesday match  Moreover, confidence level of Bangladesh team is also very high after beating Bhutan by 2-0 goals in the FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly at home last week. Both the teams made their final practice session on Monday at the match venue with Hong Kong in the afternoon and Bangladesh in the evening. In a pre- match press conference at a local hotel on Monday, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan said they are confident although Singapore is a more strong side and they have to perform and play better football tomorrow to win the match . FIFA chief hails expanded tournaments in AFC speech The Japanese Coach of Singapore team said, “Ranking will not be a factor in the Tuesday's  match, both the teams are of equal standard,  it will be a hard-fought match.

Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister in Charge of Trade, has said many Singaporean companies have an interest in investing in Bangladesh.  Fu made the comments when Lutfey Siddiqi, Bangladesh Special Envoy for International Affairs, called on her at her office on Wednesday. “Despite the recent political changes, we believe in the long-term potential of Bangladesh,” FU said in a message posted on her verified Facebook page. “Many Singapore companies are operating or have interest to invest in Bangladesh, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure and logistics,” he said. ADB to lend USD 100 million to Bangladesh for infrastructure dev “The Singapore government will continue to support companies that wish to invest in Bangladesh. “I look forward to deepening our economic linkages, as well as to explore ways to bring our people closer together.” Bangladesh and Singapore share warm and longstanding bilateral ties built over 50 years of diplomatic relations since 1972.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has questioned how former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his family members “left the country without obstruction” despite the allegations of amassing assets illegally. Speaking at a discussion on Saturday, he also said this exposes the ruling party leaders’ claims of not sparing wrongdoers as “mere eyewash and deception.” “I saw a media report that Benazir and his family went to Singapore, leaving the country on May 4. Before leaving, he emptied all his bank accounts and withdrew around Tk 60 crore. I don’t know whether the amount is much bigger,” Fakhrul said. Govt bears responsibility for misdeeds of Aziz, Benazir: Fakhrul The BNP leader further said, “My question is, how did he leave the country? What is the significance of a court order to confiscate his assets and freeze his bank accounts and the Anti-Corruption Commission’s move to file a case against him? When he was told he wouldn’t be allowed to go anywhere, how did he sneak off to Singapore right under the government's nose?” He said the ruling party leaders also made remarks that no one involved in corruption would be spared. “Do they (the government) think people are stupid? They understand all these are eyewash and deceptions. You’re ruling the country by resorting to trickery.” Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad, a platform of pro-BNP professionals, organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 43rd death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. Fakhrul said the government not only nurtured Benazir and Aziz Ahmed (former army chief) but also promoted countless corrupt individuals. He said that Awami League has turned Bangladesh into a “safe haven for plundering.” Why Aziz, Benazir yet to be arrested, asks Manna “We must protect the country from it. We believe that through the struggle of the people of Bangladesh, we will defeat this monster that is wreaking havoc everywhere, establish a government of the people, and restore true democracy," the BNP leader said. Fakhrul said BNP, together with many other opposition parties, have long been carrying out a movement for the restoration of democracy.Stating that they must achieve victory and success in their struggle, the BNP leader said their party will never step back from its ultimate goal of establishing people’s voting rights and democracy. “Our goal remains unwavering. Strategies may change over time; we will decide that through discussions…we’re working hard to organise them all. We believe we have not failed. We have started working again. Inshallah, victory will be ours as we’re fighting on the path of truth and justice," Fakhrul observe. Law to take its own course, says Salman F Rahman about Aziz, Benazir

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