United News of Bangladesh

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia may be flown to the United Kingdom early Friday for advanced treatment by a royal air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar, said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday. “You have already heard that we have received a highly advanced air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar, on his own initiative and out of his generosity. It will arrive here tonight and, most likely, very early in the morning, they will take our leader Begum Khaleda Zia to the United Kingdom,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. Khaleda Zia to be flown to London: Dr Zahid He said all necessary procedures for Khaleda’s travel have already been completed. “You may have also come to know who will be accompanying her. A team of doctors will travel with Madam.” The BNP leader said the royal air ambulance is equipped with very modern facilities. “It has everything available, even an operation theatre.” Fakhrul said the medical board formed with local and foreign specialists has recommended shifting Khaleda to a specialised hospital in the UK for better treatment, and BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has given his consent to the decision. Seeking prayers from the people, he said, “We pray to Almighty Allah to ensure her safe journey and good health, and that she returns to us fully recovered.” Fakhrul urged the people of the country to pray for the recovery of “the most popular leader of the nation — the uncompromising leader of democracy — who is seen as a guardian by people across the country, no matter their political views.” BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan was also present at the press conference. Earlier in the day, Khaleda’s personal physician and party Standing Committee Member AZM Zahid Hossain said she will be flown to London for advanced medical treatment. Khaleda Zia only VVIP entitled to prescribed state facilities: Adviser The decision was made unanimously by a medical board including local and foreign specialists, he told reporters at a briefing in front of Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. “She will be taken to London by a Qatar royal air ambulance. We have selected a hospital in London for her treatment and, InshAllah, we will take her there,” he said. He said several specialist doctors and two foreign physicians will accompany Khaleda Zia during her trip to the UK. Regarding her current condition, Zahid said every step has been taken strictly as advised by the medical board. “They advised that sending her to London at this stage is the most appropriate. We hope she will recover and return to us.” On 8 January, Khaleda Zia travelled to London in a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar for advanced medical treatment and returned home on 6 May by the special air ambulance. The former prime minister has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital since 23 November after being admitted with multiple health complications. As her condition worsened, she was moved to the Critical Care Unit on 27 November, where she is still under close observation. Doctors said Khaleda Zia is receiving intensive care for several complications related to her liver, kidneys and heart. A medical board, led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, is supervising her treatment with support from specialist physicians. The government has declared Khaleda Zia a ‘Very Very Important Person’ and deployed members of the Special Security Force to ensure her safety.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring that the upcoming general election will be free, fair and inclusive.   “The election will be participatory. There will be a big turnout,” he said, adding that tens of millions of young people are expected to cast their first ballots, as they had no opportunity to vote during three rigged general elections during the 16-year long autocracy.   Prof Yunus made the remarks on Thursday evening during a meeting with visiting British Minister for International Development Baroness Jenny Chapman at the State Guest House Jamuna.   During their discussions, the two leaders covered a wide range of issues, including the February general election, tackling illegal migration, boosting trade, the Rohingya crisis,and enhancing cooperation in aviation and maritime sectors.   Prof Yunus reiterated that the election would be held on schedule in the first half of February, emphasizing that it would be "inclusive and participatory", with a large voter turnout expected, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing on Friday.   EU supports Bangladesh’s transition under interim govt The Chief Adviser said the Awami League would not be able to take part in the polls as its activities have been suspended under the country’s anti-terrorism laws, and the Election Commission has subsequently removed the party from the official list of registered political parties.   He said the July Charter would mark “a new beginning” for Bangladesh, reflecting the aspirations of millions who took part in the historic July–August uprising last year.   Minister Chapman thanked Professor Yunus’s leadership since assuming charge of the Interim Government, and commended the ongoing dialogue between the National Consensus Commission and political parties over the July Charter.  

No one stands above the monarchy — not even the king’s own brother. That principle has now brought an end to Prince Andrew’s royal status. As controversy surrounding Andrew’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continued to mount, and as lawmakers questioned his rent-free stay at the Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, King Charles III took decisive action on Thursday to protect the institution’s reputation. In a statement from Buckingham Palace, the king announced that Andrew had been stripped of all his royal titles and honors, including his birthright as “prince.” From now on, he will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He has also been ordered to vacate Royal Lodge, the 30-room residence he has occupied for more than two decades. Read more: Princess Kate says sorry for manipulated family photo, saying she was experimenting with editing “The monarchy needed to draw the thickest possible line between Andrew and the rest of the royal family,” said Craig Prescott, a constitutional law expert at Royal Holloway, University of London. “And that’s exactly what the king has done.” A Decisive Break The king’s move followed an earlier, less formal agreement that Andrew would cease using his titles — a step that failed to stem a surge of negative headlines. The continued media scrutiny and calls from Parliament for further sanctions threatened to trigger a public debate about Andrew’s conduct. Charles’s decision comes as he, at 76 and undergoing treatment for cancer, seeks to strengthen the monarchy and stabilize it for his heir, Prince William. “This was clearly about putting the royal house in order, both now and for the future,” said George Gross, a royal historian at King’s College London. “It makes things easier for Prince William — and it always felt inevitable.” Scandal Still Looms While the king’s actions may protect the monarchy’s image, they do not resolve Andrew’s legal and reputational troubles. Renewed attention to his past was sparked by the release of a memoir from Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and coerced into having sex with Andrew when she was 17. Giuffre, who had been living in Australia, died by suicide earlier this year. Read more: Prince Harry says William called Meghan “difficult, rude and abrasive” before physical attack Her brother, Sky Roberts, praised her efforts to expose both Epstein and Andrew, and called for the prince’s prosecution. Andrew has consistently denied all allegations. Historian Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, told the BBC that he expects further revelations and possible investigations into Andrew’s conduct, including potential abuses of public office. “I don’t think it’s over — but at least the palace is taking firm action,” Lownie said. A Troubled Past Andrew, 65, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, served over 20 years in the Royal Navy before becoming a full-time royal in 2001. His career and reputation have long been clouded by controversy. In 2007, he sold a home near Windsor Castle for 20% above its £15 million asking price to Timur Kulibayev, the Kazakh president’s son-in-law, raising concerns about potential influence-peddling. His connections to figures linked to Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi also prompted his removal as the UK’s special trade envoy. Read more: Harry and Meghan slam British tabloids in new Netflix series Despite these scandals, Andrew was long protected by the queen, who was said to have had a soft spot for her son. That protection crumbled after his disastrous 2019 BBC interview, in which he failed to express sympathy for Epstein’s victims and offered implausible denials. Public backlash forced him to give up all official duties and charity roles soon after. Now, King Charles has completed the separation by severing Andrew’s remaining royal ties. He will be relocated to the king’s private Sandringham estate after vacating the Royal Lodge — a long-disputed residence he had refused to surrender. A Monarchy in Transition Experts say the decision reflects a broader shift in how the royal family is adapting to modern accountability. Craig Prescott noted that while public criticism of the monarchy was muted during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, Charles faces greater scrutiny and a more demanding public. “This marks a transition toward a monarchy that functions more like a public institution — subject to oversight and public expectation,” Prescott said. “There was both public and parliamentary pressure for the king to act, and he has done so.” Read more: Kate, Princess of Wales, says she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy

The United States and the United Kingdom announced fresh aid commitment of 96 million dollars in the first ever high-level conference on the Rohingya and other Myanmar minorities at the UN headquarters on Tuesday, said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. The US announced a new donation of 60 million dollars and the UK 36 million dollars, he told UNB. “Houses burned. Neighbours killed. Hope vanishing.” With those stark words, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock opened the high-level UN conference, as alarm rises over the impact of Myanmar’s deepening crisis which threatens to destabilise the wider region. Assembly President Baerbock underscored the scale of suffering. “Over five million Rohingya men, women and children share some version of this story,” she said, noting that 800,000 children remain out of school in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar camp alone. Humanitarian funding is critically short, with the 2025 response plan just 12 per cent funded. “This should put us to shame,” she declared, urging states to boost aid and pursue a political solution that would enable safe, voluntary and sustainable return. At the heart of the emergency are the Rohingya Muslims, denied Burmese citizenship, driven from their homes and forced into camps or exile, according to the UN news. More than a million now live as refugees in Bangladesh, while countless more remain displaced or trapped – alongside other minorities – inside Myanmar under conditions UN leaders described as “dire” and “unsustainable.” The conference at UN Headquarters in New York, brought together top UN officials, heads of state and governments, to galvanise action alongside Rohingya activists. Briefings and reports laid bare the daily realities since the February 2021 military coup: forced recruitment, sexual violence, airstrikes, starvation and mass displacement. Devise roadmap for Rohingya repatriation, act together to stabilise Rakhine: Prof Yunus Humanitarian agencies warn that resources are running out, leaving refugees malnourished and pushing more people into taking dangerous sea journeys. Conditions inside Myanmar’s Rakhine state – ancestral home of the Rohingya – are described as the worst in decades, with civilians caught between junta forces and ethnic armed groups. ‘Human Rights Trampled’ The Secretary-General, in a statement read by his Chef de Cabinet Courtenay Rattray, said the crisis has “trampled on the human rights, dignity and safety of millions and threatens regional stability.” He urged three immediate steps: protecting civilians in line with international law, guaranteeing humanitarian access, and reinvigorating investment to ease the strain on refugees and host communities. “The solution to this crisis lies ultimately in Myanmar,” the message stressed, calling for an end to persecution and recognition that “the Rohingya belong – as full citizens.” Humanitarian funding is critically short, with the 2025 response plan just 12 per cent funded. “This should put us to shame,” she declared, urging states to boost aid and pursue a political solution that would enable safe, voluntary and sustainable return. Demand for Accountability For Rohingya activists, the conference was not another moment of awareness but a demand for justice. Wai Wai Nu, founder of the Myanmar Women’s Peace Network, told delegates that the atrocities did not end in 2017, when over 750,000 Rohingya men, women and children fled violence described as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” by then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. Rohingya Conference: Prospects for funding JRP next year grim, says Filippo Grandi “It has worsened,” she said, pointing to killings, forced conscription, sexual violence and starvation inflicted by both the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups fighting the junta. “Without action, the Rohingya exodus will continue until there is no more Rohingya left in Myanmar,” she warned, urging cross-border humanitarian corridors, targeted sanctions and prosecutions for atrocity crimes. ‘A test for humanity’ Rofik Husson, founder of the Arakan Youth Peace Network, offered his own testimony of displacement and violence, recalling how the junta forced Rohingya men and boys into service, often as human shields. In one week alone, he said, at least 400 were killed. He described village burnings and drone strikes, including a May 2024 massacre that displaced 200,000 people in a single day. “Ending the crisis of insecurity for the Rohingya community is a test for this Assembly and a test for humanity itself,” he told delegates, calling for an internationally supervised safe zone in northern Rakhine. No Agreed Pathway to Peace Adding a wider lens, Special Envoy Julie Bishop stressed that Myanmar’s multifaceted crisis is inseparable from the political turmoil unleashed by the 2021 coup. With no ceasefire in place and armed conflict spreading, she warned that planned elections later this year would fuel further violence rather than deliver legitimacy. “There is no agreed pathway to peace,” she said, cautioning that international condemnation of the junta has ebbed even as abuses persist. A Fragile Hope Despite the grim accounts, speakers emphasised that solutions remain possible if political will can be summoned. US pledges support for Myanmar, Rohingya Baerbock closed her remarks by noting, “The Rohingya people have survived eight years of hardship, displacement and uncertainty. Their resilience is extraordinary. Our response must match it.” For Rohingya activists, the message was equally clear: declarations are no longer enough. “Justice is not optional…It is the only deterrent, the only path to peace,” Nu said.

The U.K., Australia and Canada formally recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, prompting an angry response from Israel, which ruled out the prospect. The coordinated initiative from the three Commonwealth nations and long-time allies reflects growing outrage at Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza and the steps taken by the Israeli government to thwart efforts to create a Palestinian state, including by the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has faced pressure to take a harder line on Israel within his own governing Labour Party over the deteriorating situation in Gaza, said the U.K.’s move is intended “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis.” He insisted it wasn’t a reward for Hamas, which was behind the attack on Oct. 7, 2023, in which the militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251 others. “Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clearly as prime minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognizes the state of Palestine,” Starmer said in a video message. “We recognized the state of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today we join over 150 countries who recognize a Palestinian state also.” The moves by the three countries prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say that the establishment of a Palestinian state “will not happen.” The U.K. announcement was widely anticipated after Starmer said in July that the U.K. would recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, allowed the United Nations to bring in aid and took other steps toward long-term peace. More countries are expected to join the list recognizing a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly this week, including France, which like the U.K., is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Palestinian and Israeli reactions Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the three countries for proferring a “prize” to Hamas. “It will not happen,” he said. “A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.” Netanyahu is set to give a speech to the General Assembly on Friday before heading to see U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House Monday week. Ahead of Sunday’s announcement, Trump said he disapproved of the U.K.’s anticipated move. Hamas hailed the decision, calling it a “rightful outcome of our people’s struggle, steadfastness, and sacrifices on the path to liberation and return.” The Islamic militant group, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction, called on the world to isolate Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed that Sunday’s moves constitute an important and necessary step toward achieving a just peace in accordance with international law. As well as arguing that recognition is immoral, critics argue that it’s an empty gesture given that the Palestinian people are divided into two territories — the West Bank and the Gaza strip— and no recognized international capital. Historical overlay The U.K. and France have a historic role in the politics of the Middle East over the past 100 years, having carved up the region following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I. As part of that carve-up, the U.K. became the governing power of what was then Palestine. It was also author of the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which backed the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people.” However, the second part of the declaration has been largely neglected over the decades. It noted “that nothing shall be done, nothing which may prejudice the civil and religious rights” of the Palestinian people. “It’s significant for France and the U.K. to recognize Palestine because of the legacy of these two countries’ involvement in the Middle East,” said Burcu Ozcelik, senior research fellow for Middle East Security at London-based Royal United Services Institute. “But without the United States coming on board with the idea of a Palestine, I think very little will change on the ground.” Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian head of mission in the U.K., told the BBC that recognition would right a colonial-era wrong. “The issue today is ending the denial of our existence that started 108 years ago, in 1917,” he said. “And I think today, the British people should celebrate a day when history is being corrected, when wrongs are being righted, when recognition of the wrongs of the past are beginning to be corrected.” Diplomatic shift The U.K. has for decades supported an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, but insisted recognition must come as part of a peace plan to achieve a two-state solution. However, the government has become increasingly worried that such a solution is becoming all but impossible – and not only because of the razing of Gaza and displacement of most of its population during nearly two years of conflict, which has seen more than 65,000 people killed in Gaza, displaced around 90% of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Last week, independent experts commissioned by the U.N.’s Human Rights Council concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a charge that Israel rejected as “distorted and false.” Also vexing the U.K. is Israel’s government has been aggressively expanding settlements in the West Bank, land Palestinians want for their future state. Much of the world regards Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, which is ostensibly run by the Palestinian Authority, as illegal. “This move has symbolic and historic weight, makes clear the U.K.’s concerns about the survival of a two-state solution, and is intended to keep that goal relevant and alive,” said Olivia O’Sullivan, Director of the U.K. in the World Programme at the London-based think tank, Chatham House.

The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive development in Bangladesh, pledging to ensure no one is left behind while supporting the rights of indigenous communities and minority groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and across the country. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke visited the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) from September 15 to 16 to witness firsthand the impact of UK-funded health programmes supporting marginalised communities in the region. During her visit to Khagrachari and Rangamati, the High Commissioner saw how funding from the UK government, in partnership with the government of Bangladesh, the UN and local partners, has helped improve maternal and child health in the Hill Tracts. Visiting local health centres, she observed how the UK Government has supported mothers to give birth safely, access family planning and also access life-saving cervical cancer screening for the first time. The UK is also funding education programmes in the region, to strengthen government education systems and provide catch-up education to help previously out-of-school children, especially girls, return to mainstream education, said the High Commission. UK envoy Sarah Cooke happy with Yunus’ visit to Britain High Commissioner Sarah Cooke said she was delighted to visit the Chattogram Hill Tracts for the first time as High Commissioner. "I’ve really enjoyed seeing the beautiful natural landscape as well as the warmth and hospitality of the people," she said. “I am proud that, through our partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and our UN and local partners, the UK has supported marginalised and indigenous communities access improved health services and get an education in some of the most remote parts of the country.” Between 2020 and 2024, UK-funded health programmes, implemented by UNFPA, supported over 12,000 safe births through trained midwives. Bangladesh's UK envoy expresses allegiance to upcoming interim govt And more than 8,000 women have received cervical cancer screening. Through the Educate the Most Disadvantaged Children programme, funded by the UK and implemented by UNICEF, children are receiving catch-up education. In Bandarban, over 2,700 children, around half of which are girls, have been supported and are now continuing formal education.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in the United Kingdom on Tuesday for a state visit that blends high-stakes diplomacy with royal pageantry, as London hopes to secure major technology and trade deals despite ongoing tensions over Ukraine, the Middle East and the Western alliance. The two-day trip features horse-drawn carriages, military guards of honor and a grand banquet at Windsor Castle, where King Charles III will host the president. Trump will also hold talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, the British leader’s countryside retreat. Starmer’s office said the visit underscores that “the U.K.-U.S. relationship is the strongest in the world, built on 250 years of history,” while the White House described it as an opportunity to deepen ties and mark the upcoming U.S. 250th anniversary. “This trip to the U.K. is going to be incredible,” Trump told reporters before departing, praising Windsor Castle as “amazing.” Trump becomes the first U.S. president to be accorded a second state visit to Britain, a gesture that reflects both his fondness for royal ceremony and foreign governments’ recognition of his taste for grandeur. Starmer has already sought to cultivate goodwill with Trump, praising his Oval Office décor and even visiting Trump’s golf courses in Scotland earlier this year. But the Labour leader faces unease within his party, as Trump remains deeply unpopular across Europe. The president will avoid Parliament — which is in recess — as well as mass protests planned in London, with most events scheduled at Windsor and Chequers. Analysts say the visit is crucial for Starmer’s image as a statesman, though politically risky. The trip comes at a turbulent moment for Starmer’s government. He recently dismissed Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over past ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, and his deputy prime minister resigned over a tax issue. Trump, however, has publicly described Starmer as “a friend,” despite their political differences. Both leaders are expected to announce a major technology partnership involving U.S. investment in nuclear energy, life sciences and AI data centers. Business leaders, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI chief Sam Altman, are part of the U.S. delegation. The May trade agreement easing U.S. tariffs on Britain’s auto and aerospace sectors is also set to be advanced, though disputes remain over steel, aluminum and pharmaceuticals. Starmer also hopes to reinforce U.S. support for Ukraine. While Trump has criticized Vladimir Putin, he has stopped short of imposing new sanctions. The two leaders are also divided on Gaza, with Starmer pledging to back recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN later this month. Despite disagreements, London views the visit as a chance to demonstrate stability in the transatlantic alliance while securing tangible economic gains.  

A ship came under attack Sunday in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen by armed men firing guns and launching rocket-propelled grenades, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, a group overseen by the British military. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred amid heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas war and recent conflicts involving Iran and the United States. The attack took place approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, a city controlled by Houthi rebels. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center stated that an armed security team aboard the ship returned fire and described the situation as ongoing. “Authorities are investigating,” the center added. Maritime security firm Ambrey issued a warning saying that a merchant ship was “attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea” and believed the attack was still in progress. Ukraine pursues joint weapons production with allies as US pauses some arms shipments The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet referred questions to the U.S. Central Command, which had not immediately responded to requests for comment. The Houthi rebels have previously launched missile and drone attacks against commercial and military vessels in the region, describing their actions as efforts to end Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Their al-Masirah satellite news channel confirmed the attack but offered no further comments, instead airing a speech by their leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. These attacks significantly disrupted the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees goods worth $1 trillion annually. The Houthis had paused their attacks under a self-imposed ceasefire until mid-March, when the U.S. launched a broad assault against them. The ceasefire ended weeks later, and while the Houthis have not attacked any vessels since, they have continued missile attacks targeting Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed to have launched a missile at Israel, which the Israeli military said was intercepted. Meanwhile, the decade-long war in Yemen between the Houthis and the exiled government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, remains at a stalemate. The Yemeni Coast Guard, loyal to the exiled government, has also engaged in firefights with vessels in the Red Sea. In addition, Somali pirates have operated in the region, typically targeting vessels for robbery or ransom.

Two firefighters and a civilian were killed in a blaze at a former British military base that is now used to commemorate the history of aviation and motor sports, officials said Friday. The fire broke out Thursday in a large warehouse at the former Royal Air Force base in Bicester, near Oxford. Giant plumes of smoke could be seen for miles and witnesses reported hearing explosions.  Leaders of ICAB, ICAEW meet in UK Two other firefighters were hospitalized with serious injuries, Oxfordshire County Council said. Crews had the fire under control Friday morning but remained at the scene.  UK becomes fastest-growing G7 economy after strong first quarter

Rising high above the Dee Valley in Northeast Wales under the United Kingdom, a remarkable structure stretches across the landscape, both graceful and bold. Known as the 'Stream in the Sky,' the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct stands as the tallest navigable aqueduct in the world. This awe-inspiring engineering marvel has earned its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts travellers worldwide. Let’s explore the waterway that defies gravity. Architect of Elevation: The Visionary Behind This Specialty Suspended high above the River Dee, this aqueduct invites a rare encounter with both nature and ingenuity. At 38 metres above the ground and stretching 307 metres in length, this 'Stream in the Sky' appears to defy gravity. Its presence is as serene as it is commanding, an elevated ribbon of water slicing through the skies of North Wales. Completed in 1805 after a decade of construction, the aqueduct stands as a masterpiece of the Industrial Revolution. Its creator, Thomas Telford, a visionary known as "The Colossus of Roads", combined structural brilliance with poetic ambition. The result: an enduring monument to progress, elevated quite literally. Read more: Smiling Quokka Turned Rottnest Island into a Global Tourist Hotspot Comprising 18 massive stone arches, the sky-bound channel carries the Llangollen Canal across the Dee Valley, linking England to Wales. Nestled within an officially designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this engineering marvel remains as functional as it is breathtaking. Crossing Heights: Breathtaking Experiences Adventuring over the span of the waterway demands more than curiosity; it calls for composure at elevation. Kayakers, paddle boarders, and narrowboat passengers all share the same breathtaking route. Each navigates a narrow channel flanked by open air and far-reaching countryside views. For those who prefer their feet on solid ground, walking the aqueduct provides a steadier yet equally rewarding perspective. The gentle sway of the towpath and uninterrupted vistas make for a contemplative journey. At day’s end, the nearby visitor centre offers insight into its construction, detailing the techniques and vision behind its creation. Read more: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bangladesh Just steps away, the Pontcysyllte Tea Rooms present a peaceful retreat. Whether after a skyward adventure or a valley walk, this welcoming stop completes the experience. From Global Heritage to Viral Wonder Since being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 27 June 2009, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct has steadily grown into one of the most visited landmarks in Wales. Each year, it draws over half a million visitors. They are captivated by its towering design, engineering significance, and sweeping views over the Dee Valley. In recent years, the historic structure has also found fame in the digital sphere. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts capturing the experience of walking, kayaking, or boating across its narrow expanse. Its videos amassed over 1.8 million views, sparking widespread fascination across the internet. The structure’s sheer height and dramatic setting have made it a favourite subject for reels, travel vlogs, and scenic montages. Read more: City Guide to Bangkok, Thailand for Bangladeshis Reactions in the comment sections reveal a mix of awe, nostalgia, and personal connections. Some praised it as one of the most exciting adventures in North Wales. Others recounted family ties to its maintenance or restoration. A few expressed a sense of vertigo while admiring the beauty, describing the railings as unnerving yet the surroundings as unforgettable.