United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh on Thursday requested Qatar to accord priority to the supply of LNG to Bangladesh as soon as the Strait of Hormuz reopens and maritime movement resumes. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir met with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi on the sidelines of the 23rd OIC Extraordinary CFM in Jeddah and made the request. The State Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for Qatar’s mediation efforts between Iran and the United States and commended Qatar’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and regional peace and stability. The Qatari State Minister thanked Bangladesh for its support and expressed Qatar’s readiness to further strengthen cooperation in the energy sector. They also discussed some other bilateral issues, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Iran said Saturday that Qatar is holding three of its pilots who went missing after their aircraft were shot down in March, a claim Doha rejected, as Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people amid rising tensions across the Middle East. Iran’s Missing Persons Committee of the Armed Forces General Staff said Qatar’s military captured the three pilots after their jets were downed. Tehran had previously said it had no information about the pilots’ fate. Iran also alleged that Qatar had prevented the pilots from meeting or communicating with their families and Iranian officials. It appealed to the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross for assistance. Qatar denied the allegation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said the pilots’ aircraft had been shot down and that Qatari search teams had recovered the remains of one of them. He said Iran had been invited in April to inspect the search efforts but did not respond. Iran said a fourth pilot was killed during a mission targeting a military base in Qatar, according to Iranian state media. Meanwhile, an oil tanker operated by Abu Dhabi’s state-owned oil and gas company ADNOC was attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE’s state-run WAM news agency reported. No one was injured in Friday evening’s incident, which the UAE described as the third attack on an ADNOC-operated vessel in the strategic waterway within a week. The United Arab Emirates called on Iran to halt what it described as unprovoked attacks. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre separately reported that a bulk carrier was hit in its hull by an unidentified projectile on Friday. It was not immediately clear whether it was the same vessel. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed before the latest conflict, has remained a major flashpoint since the war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people on Saturday, among the deadliest attacks since a fragile truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah took effect on June 20. Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state news agency said an Israeli strike on a house near Ansar killed seven people, including three children, and wounded two others. Another strike in Deir al-Zahrani killed four people and injured 17. The Israeli military said it killed a Hezbollah battalion commander and several other militants at a command centre in southern Lebanon, saying the strike was carried out in response to Hezbollah activity against Israeli troops. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said three Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded and blamed an explosive drone. The Israeli military said the commander’s family was present at the site but was not the intended target, while Israeli authorities accused him of using family members as human shields. The strikes came amid a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel aimed at paving the way for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in return for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Hezbollah has rejected direct negotiations and was not part of the agreement. In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked the government-controlled Red Sea port of Mokha, killing at least three people, including two marines, Yemeni authorities said. Port director Abdul-Malik al-Sharabi said Friday evening’s attack also forced the suspension of port operations. Yemeni military spokesperson Col. Majed al-Nazili said the Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at the port. The attack was the latest escalation by the Houthis against government-held areas and neighbouring Saudi Arabia, raising concerns that the conflict could push Yemen back into a wider civil war. Analysts say the escalation is part of Iran’s broader effort to increase pressure on the United States and its regional allies.

Some personnel at a key US military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening as tensions rose following Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters and warnings of possible US action, a US official and Qatari authorities said. The precautionary move came after a senior Iranian official referred to Tehran’s retaliatory missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in June, carried out in response to earlier US attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the step was part of broader regional security measures. The official declined to say whether the evacuation was optional or mandatory, whether it applied to military or civilian personnel, or how many people were affected. Early Thursday, the US Embassy in Qatar said it had advised its staff to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to Al Udeid Air Base. It also urged US citizens in Qatar to take similar precautions. In Kuwait, the US Embassy ordered a temporary halt on its personnel travelling to several military bases, including Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring, Ali Al Salem Air Base and Camp Patriot, amid heightened regional tensions. Kuwait hosts US Army Central, Washington’s Middle East command. Anti-government protests in Iran began in late December, and President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to launch military operations if Tehran continues to kill and detain protesters. A day after describing the killings as “significant” and vowing that his administration would “act accordingly,” Trump told reporters he had been informed that Iran had halted its targeting of protesters and suspended execution plans, though he offered no details. His vague remarks left it unclear what action, if any, the United States might take against Iran. Qatar’s international media office said the security measures at Al Udeid were being taken in response to “current regional tensions” and stressed that protecting citizens, residents and critical infrastructure remained a top priority. Al Udeid, which hosts thousands of US troops, was struck by Iranian missiles in June. While the US military said no American or Qatari personnel were harmed, a Qatari officer later said one missile was not intercepted and hit the base. Iranian Supreme Leader adviser Ali Shamkhani warned on social media that any future US aggression would be met with a decisive response, citing the earlier strike on Al Udeid as proof of Iran’s capabilities. US and Qatari officials said they remain in close contact, with Qatar reiterating its support for de-escalation and peaceful solutions to maintain regional stability.

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has reaffirmed Bangladesh’s solidarity with Qatar against any threat to its security and sovereignty. He conveyed the message during a meeting with the Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad bin Sultan Al Muraikhi They discussed various bilateral issues, and Qatar reiterated its commitment to support efforts for resolving the Rohingya crisis, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. Bangladesh praises Bahrain’s role in promoting Middle East stability Foreign Adviser Hossain also held discussions with the Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), exploring ways for the organization to play a greater role in addressing political challenges and promoting cooperation across Asia. Hossain is attending the sessions and side events of the 21st Manama Dialogue, which brings together global leaders and policymakers to deliberate on key regional and international security issues. Hossain held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the ongoing 21st Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, focusing on strengthening regional peace, cooperation and bilateral relations on Saturday.  

Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have been engaged in over a week of fierce border clashes that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday. It marks the worst confrontation between the two neighbours in years. According to a Qatari statement, both sides also agreed to form mechanisms to promote lasting peace and stability and will hold follow-up talks in the coming days to ensure the truce endures. The negotiations were mediated by Qatar and Turkey. Tensions flared earlier this month, with each country accusing the other of cross-border aggression. Afghanistan has rejected Pakistan’s claim that it shelters militants who stage attacks along the frontier. Pakistan has been facing a growing wave of militancy since 2021, when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. The recent fighting raised fears of further instability in a region where extremist groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaida have been attempting to reemerge. A temporary 48-hour ceasefire expired Friday evening, and hours later Pakistan launched strikes across the border. Afghan, Pakistani officials meet in Doha to address border violence Pakistani security officials told the Associated Press that the military targeted militant hideouts in two districts of Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, identifying them as bases of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group. The strikes were described as retaliation for a suicide bombing at a security compound in Mir Ali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the day before. Officials said the air raids killed dozens of militants without civilian casualties. However, Afghan authorities reported at least 10 civilian deaths, including women, children, and several young cricketers who had been playing nearby. In response, Afghanistan’s cricket board announced a boycott of its upcoming series in Pakistan. The International Cricket Council said it was “saddened and appalled by the tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan players.” Thousands of people attended funeral prayers for the victims in Paktika on Saturday, where clerics denounced the attacks over loudspeakers. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned what he called Pakistan’s “repeated crimes and violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty,” describing them as deliberate provocations aimed at prolonging hostilities. The two nations share a 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) frontier known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has never officially recognized. Pakistan, meanwhile, has accused India of supporting armed groups inside its territory — a charge New Delhi denies. Afghan police accuse Pakistan of cross-border strikes after ceasefire ends Addressing cadets at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir urged Afghanistan to choose “mutual security over perpetual violence and progress over hardline obscurantism,” while calling on the Taliban to rein in militants operating from Afghan soil. High-level delegations from both countries took part in the Doha negotiations that led to Sunday’s ceasefire announcement. Source: AP 

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order committing to defend Qatar against external threats, including through possible military action, following Israel’s surprise strike on the Gulf nation. The order, posted on the White House website Wednesday but dated Monday, pledges to safeguard Qatar’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and critical infrastructure. It came amid efforts to reassure Doha after the Israeli attack, which killed six people, including a member of Qatar’s security forces, as Hamas leaders were reportedly weighing a ceasefire deal in the Gaza war. “The United States shall regard any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to U.S. peace and security,” the order states. It further authorizes “all lawful and appropriate measures — diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military” to defend both American and Qatari interests. US begins troop drawdown in Iraq under agreement with Baghdad The move followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Washington visit, during which Trump arranged a call between Netanyahu and Qatar’s leadership. Netanyahu conveyed his “deep regret” over the strike, the White House said. Later, Trump also spoke by phone with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani about Doha’s mediation in ceasefire talks. Qatar welcomed the U.S. pledge as a “significant step in strengthening defense ties,” while Al Jazeera described the order as a security guarantee. However, questions remain about its binding nature, as treaties typically require Senate approval. Analysts noted that Trump, like previous presidents, has at times pursued international commitments without Senate consent. The order has already stirred debate. Right-wing activist Laura Loomer posted on X: “I don’t want to die for Qatar. Do you?” The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board also criticized the decision, saying it came “without public debate.” Qatar hosts the U.S. Central Command’s forward base at Al Udeid Air Base and was designated a major non-NATO ally by President Joe Biden in 2022 for its role in aiding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Gulf state also maintains close ties with Trump, ranging from business projects to support for his presidential travel. Meanwhile, Israel’s strike has triggered broader regional repercussions. Saudi Arabia has signed a mutual defense pact with Pakistan, reportedly extending Islamabad’s nuclear umbrella over the kingdom. Analysts suggest other Gulf states, facing uncertainty over Israel and renewed U.N. sanctions on Iran, may also seek formal guarantees from Washington. “The Gulf’s centrality to the Middle East and its strategic value to the United States demand clear guarantees beyond verbal assurances and ceremonial meetings,” wrote Bader al-Saif, a Gulf affairs expert at Kuwait University. Source: AP

Qatar on Monday prepared to host a high-level summit in Doha in response to last week’s Israeli strike on Hamas leaders, aiming to rally Arab and Islamic nations behind efforts to restrain Israel as the war in Gaza drags on. The summit comes despite Qatar’s role as a key mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas — a role Doha has pledged to continue even after the assault. Since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 abducted, Israel has expanded its retaliatory strikes across Iran, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Syria, Qatar and Yemen. More than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, about half of them women and children, according to local health officials. The widening conflict has fueled anger across the region and deepened doubts about U.S. security guarantees in the Gulf. “It is time for the international community to stop applying double standards and punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed,” Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Sunday. Analysts note that while assembling such a summit on short notice highlights regional urgency, it remains unclear whether it will lead to stronger measures against Israel, such as diplomatic downgrades, economic restrictions, or airspace limitations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who traveled to Doha for the meeting, accused Israel of attacking “many Islamic countries, including Qatar, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Yemen,” while criticizing U.S. and European support for Israel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the sentiment, writing on X that “Iran stands with Qatar and indeed all Muslim brothers and sisters.” Neither mentioned Iran’s own strike on Qatar earlier this year. Qatar, which has hosted Hamas’ political office for years at Washington’s request, remains central to back-channel talks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Hamas leaders in Doha could be targeted. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated Washington’s support for Qatar, calling it “a great ally” facing unique challenges due to its strategic location. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel on Monday for talks with Netanyahu, focusing on the attack on Qatar and Israel’s planned offensive in Gaza City. Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces mounting public pressure over the fate of 48 hostages still held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.  

Qatar on Saturday announced it will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on September 15 to address the recent Israeli attack on its capital. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told the state-run Qatar News Agency that foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries will gather Sunday to draft a statement ahead of the leaders’ meeting. Al Ansari said the summit comes at a critical time, underscoring Arab and Islamic solidarity with Qatar in the face of what he called the “cowardly Israeli aggression” that targeted the homes of several Hamas leaders in Doha. He added that the summit also reflects a united rejection of what he described as “state terrorism” carried out by Israel. On Tuesday, Israel carried out an unprecedented airstrike in Doha, hitting a building where Hamas officials were holding talks on a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. The strike killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer, while key members of the Hamas negotiating team survived. The attack sparked swift condemnation from Qatar and drew criticism from across the international community.

The government of Bangladesh has unequivocally condemned the recent Israeli military aggression against Qatar. Such actions constitute a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar, as well as of international law and the principles of the UN Charter, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Wednesday. Bangladesh called upon the international community, particularly the United Nations and relevant stakeholders to take appropriate measures to ensure accountability and to uphold respect for international law and the UN Charter. Dhaka seeks peaceful dialogue in Nepal to resolve differences Bangladesh said it stands in steadfast solidarity with the government and people of the brotherly State of Qatar in the face of this unlawful and unprovoked attack. This incident is yet another indication of Israel’s continued disregard for regional stability, international peace, and established international norms, Bangladesh said in its statement. "Such actions undermine global efforts towards peace and security," the statement read.

US President Donald Trump has said he is “not thrilled” about Israel’s air strike in Qatar, which killed five Hamas members and triggered widespread condemnation from across the world. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended this attack as “fully justified,” targeted senior Hamas leaders accused of masterminding the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war. Hamas confirmed the deaths of five members, including the son of top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, but said Israel failed to assassinate its political bureau members. The group denounced the strike in Doha as a “heinous crime” and a “flagrant violation of international law.” Qatar, a key US ally hosting an American air base and the Hamas political bureau since 2012, strongly condemned the assault as “cowardly” and a grave breach of its sovereignty. The interior ministry said one security officer was killed and others injured. Witnesses in Doha reported up to eight explosions in the Katara district. Trump told reporters: “I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not a good situation. We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.” The White House later said the president had assured Qatar’s emir and prime minister that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.” According to US officials, Trump had instructed envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Qatari authorities of the impending strike. The White House stressed that bombing inside a sovereign ally “does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” though it described eliminating Hamas as a “worthy” objective. Israel said the operation was carried out independently, involving 15 fighter jets that launched 10 munitions within seconds. Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the decision followed recent deadly attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza. Reactions poured in from around the world. The UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the strike as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, while French President Emmanuel Macron called it “unacceptable regardless of motive.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned of further escalation, and Saudi Arabia denounced the “brutal aggression.” Pope Leo XIV said the situation was “very serious,” while families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza expressed deep anxiety that the strike could endanger their loved ones. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid demanded the government clarify whether hostages’ safety had been considered. Hamas said its delegation had been discussing the latest US ceasefire proposal in Doha when the compound was hit. The plan reportedly includes a 60-day truce, the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and talks on a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu later told a gathering at the US embassy in Jerusalem that the strike could “open the door to an end of the war.” He urged Gazans to “stand up for your rights and your future” and accept peace. Israel has previously killed several top Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July 2024 and Yahya Sinwar in Gaza three months later. The Gaza war erupted after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage on 7 October 2023. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed at least 64,605 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.