Reiterating its steadfast support to the current interim government, Australia has sought Bangladesh's assistance in addressing irregular migrant issues, handling of people smuggling and trafficking in persons as well as transnational organised crimes. While appreciating Bangladesh's economic and social development, Australia expressed its keen interest in working more closely with Bangladesh on issues of mutual interests in the days to come. During the fifth senior officials’ talks at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia on Tuesday, Bangladesh recognized Australia's continued support in Bangladesh's development efforts since independence. Bangladesh has sought technical and expert support from Australia in its agriculture, education, energy, blue economy and ICT sectors. Bangladesh also urged Australia to play a more proactive role in pursuing the global community to put collective political pressure on Myanmar for an enduring solution to the Rohingya problem. Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral-East & West) Md Nazrul Islam and first Assistant Secretary, South and Central Asia Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia Sarah Storey led the delegations on respective sides. High-level government officials of relevant departments along with Mission officials of both countries were also present during the talks. The talks, held with a spirit of mutual understanding, covered a wide array of issues, including development partnership, sectoral cooperation, strategic and regional issues, migration issues, civil maritime cooperation, security and defense cooperation, and cooperation in multilateral fora. Climate change featured prominently in the talks, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to addressing global environmental challenges. Australia acknowledged Bangladesh's vulnerability to climate impacts and pledged continued support for Bangladesh’s climate adaptation and resilience efforts. Prof Yunus lauds BSC; it repays government Tk 475cr Regional and global issues of mutual interest, including Indo-Pacific outlook, counter-terrorism, and multilateral cooperation, were also on the agenda. The talks reflected the shared commitment to upholding peace, security, and prosperity in the region. The officials expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the bilateral relationship and identified areas for further collaboration. They reiterated their dedication to strengthening ties and working together to address shared challenges. Both sides underscored the importance of regular exchange of visits, including at the highest level, as well as regular contacts and interaction between leaders and officials, to take forward bilateral cooperation to a new level. The next round of senior officials’ talks will be held in Dhaka in 2025.  

A year after its inauguration,  Akhaura-Agartala dual-gauge railway remains inoperative, leaving the infrastructures idle and delaying cross-border trade. The railway was inaugurated on November 1, 2023  aiming to enhance trade between Bangladesh and India but the train services have yet to begin. Gazala Parveen Ruhi, Akhaura upazila nirbahi officer, said, “The decision on when the trains will start running lies with the government. Once the contractor officially hands over the project, discussions will begin and a timeline will be set by the authorities.” The railway constructed involving around Tk 250 crore connects  Gangasagar railway station in Akhaura, Brahmanbaria, with Nichintapur in Agartala, India, spanning 12.24 kilometres, with 6.78 kilometres within Bangladesh. The Bangladesh part was constructed by Indian contractor Texmaco Rail and Engineering Limited at a cost of Tk 241 crore. Though the project was initially expected to take one and a half years, delays of over six years occurred due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other challenges. While the infrastructures are in place and trial runs have been conducted, the official inauguration in November 2023 was marred by incomplete facilities, including immigration and customs buildings, platforms, and access roads.  Despite a notification from the National Board of Revenue on October 31, 2023, allowing imports and exports through the railway, trade has not yet started. Texmaco's project manager Vishal Bakshi  said construction was completed in early November, 2023 and that preparations were underway for the handover. However, with no clear timeline for the launch of train services, uncertainty surrounds the future of the project, he added.  

Bangladesh received inward remittance of US $1.726 billion in 23 days of November, according to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank (BB). As per the data, the average daily remittance received is $75 million dollars. A review of the central bank's data showed that in the first 23 days of this November, $640 million came through state-owned banks, $131 million came through a specialised bank, $951 million came through private banks, and $4 million came through foreign banks. Read: Bangladesh seeks Belgium’s backing for GSP+, post-LDC graduation  

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen on Sunday said his country will work with Bangladesh at the international level to resolve the Rohingya crisis. He made the pledge during a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.  The Turkish envoy met Fakhrul and discussed bilateral issues and the upcoming national election in Bangladesh. The meeting, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, began around 4pm at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office. Dhaka voices “deep concern” over recent influx of 40,000 Rohingyas BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and BNP Organising Secretary Shama Obed were also present at the meeting. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Khosru said they covered a range of issues, including the Rohingya crisis. He recalled that Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu were the first foreign dignitaries to visit the Rohingya camps in 2017, shortly after Myanmar's persecuted citizens sought refuge in Cox’s Bazar. Foreign aid for Rohingya programmes drops: Roundtable “Turkey has shown strong commitment to the Rohingya people and resolving the crisis. They have continued their cooperation through providing healthcare and donations for the Rohingyas," the BNP leader said. Khosru said the Turkish envoy informed them that his country will work with Bangladesh at the international level, particularly through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to resolve the Rohingya crisis in the future. "I hope we’ll be able to do that.” During the meeting, the BNP leader mentioned that the discussion also touched on Bangladesh's upcoming general election. "Every foreign friend has the same question: when will the election be held? We told them what we usually say," he said. He said the international stakeholders are waiting to decide on their future engagement with Bangladesh, depending on the restoration of a democratic order through an elected government. "Turkey has an interest in this, and they also wanted to know when the election will be held.” Khosru shared that Turkey is considering setting up a cultural centre in Dhaka in the near future. He said they also discussed how to enhance trade relations between the two countries by improving people-to-people and business-to-business connections. Besides, the BNP leader mentioned that Turkey plans to offer discounted treatment packages for Bangladeshis who wish to seek medical care there. "Many Bangladeshis are already going to Turkey for treatment, and Turkey wants to encourage this further. The standard of medical treatment in Turkey is comparable to that of Western countries," Khosru said. He also said the Turkish envoy expressed a willingness to assist Bangladesh in building capacity across various sectors and supporting institutional reforms, including within the Election Commission.  

The National Review Committee on the ministry of power, energy, and mineral resources on Sunday asked the interim government to hire a reputed legal and investigative firm to assist its review of major power generation contracts signed during Sheikh Hasina's autocratic rule between 2009 and 2024. In a resolution, the committee, led by Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, said it needs more time to do further analyses of other solicited and unsolicited contracts. The committee is collecting evidence that may lead to potential renegotiation or cancellation of contracts in line with the international arbitration laws and proceedings, according to the Chief Adviser's press wing. "To facilitate this, we recommend the immediate engagement of one or more top-quality international legal and investigative firms to assist our committee," the resolution says. Read: SANEM studies explore Bangladesh’s pathway to sustainable energy transition According to the resolution, the committee wants to ensure that its investigations are in line with international standards and will be acceptable in international negotiations and arbitration. The committee is currently engaged in the detailed investigation of several contracts. They include: Adani (Godda) BIFPCL 1234.4 megawatt coal fired power plantPayra 1320 MW coalMeghnaghat 335 MW dual fuelAshuganj 195 MW gasBashkhali 612 MW CoalMeghnaghat 583 MW dual fuel andMeghnaghat 584 MW gas/RLNG

A recent nationwide survey conducted by VOA Bangla reveals that 61.1% of Bangladeshis believe the next general election should be held within a year. But, a larger segment of the population (65.9%) advocates for completing all necessary reforms before proceeding with the election, indicating significant public support for thorough preparation over expediency. The survey, carried out by ORG-Quest Research Limited under VOA Bangla’s editorial guidance, gathered responses from 1,000 individuals aged 18 and above across Bangladesh’s eight divisions. Using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) method, participants were selected via random digit dialling (RDD), ensuring a representative sample. The survey, conducted between 13 and 27 October, has a margin of error of 3.1%. Diverse Opinions on Election Timing While a majority prefer elections within a year, 31.9% of respondents favour holding elections after only urgent electoral reforms are implemented. Meanwhile, 18.7% support elections within two to three years, and 8.6% believe polls should occur within 18 months. A minority of 5.8% want the elections postponed for four years or more. Interestingly, 4.6% of respondents expressed uncertainty about election timing, while 1.1% declined to answer. China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering to operate Bangladesh’s first single point mooring System The survey highlighted slight variations in preferences between urban and rural populations, with 60.4% of urban respondents and 61.4% of rural participants supporting elections within a year. Gender differences were also evident, as 65% of women preferred elections within a year compared to 57.3% of men. Support for Comprehensive Reforms A vast majority (65.9%) of respondents believe all necessary reforms identified by the interim government should be completed before the election. Among these reforms, key areas of focus include: Electoral Commission: Supported by 96.5% of respondents. Police Reforms: Supported by 92.3%. Judicial Reforms: Supported by 95.3%. Economic Sector Reforms: Backed by 96.4%. Constitutional Reforms: Favoured by 92.5%. Only 31.9% of respondents supported elections after addressing urgent election-related reforms. Perception of the Interim Government’s Performance The survey assessed public perception of the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, which took office on 8 August following the fall of the Awami League government. A majority (58.4%) believe the interim government is governing better than its predecessor, while 40.5% think it is performing either worse or similarly. UNICEF appoints 16-year-old Gargee as new youth advocate in Bangladesh  Among those critical of the interim government, 20.4% consider its governance worse, while 20.1% view it as similar to the Awami League administration. Urban residents (61.9%) and men (62%) were more likely to rate the interim government’s performance favourably than their rural (57.3%) and female (54.8%) counterparts. Public Safety and Law Enforcement Regarding law and order, 63.2% of respondents opined that the interim government is managing security better than the Awami League did. However, opinions on personal safety were evenly divided: 49.8% felt safer under the interim government, while 49.9% believed their safety had either declined or remained the same. The survey also found that 23% felt safer during the Awami League’s tenure, and 26.9% reported no change in their sense of security between the two administrations. Call for Election Roadmap The absence of a clear election roadmap has been a contentious issue. While political parties, civil society, and international stakeholders have urged the government to announce a timeline, the interim administration has prioritised reforms, emphasising their necessity for democratic consolidation. In a speech on 17 November marking the administration’s 100 days in office, Dr Yunus hinted that an election roadmap might follow once critical reforms are finalised. However, he acknowledged that delays might occur if essential changes require additional time. The political climate remains charged, with public opinion divided on balancing reform and election timelines. As debates intensify, the survey underscores the urgency of aligning electoral processes with public expectations and democratic integrity. Upcoming Reports VOA Bangla plans to release further detailed findings from the survey in subsequent reports, shedding more light on public attitudes toward governance, reforms, and elections in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh have won the toss and opted to bowl first in the Antigua Test against West Indies on Friday. Mehidy Hasan Miraz is leading the Bangladesh team in this series, making his debut as Bangladesh's captain in Tests. The tourists will play a two-match Test series against the hosts before locking horns in an ODI and T20I series. Bangladesh opted for a three-pacer attack in this match, taking Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Shoriful Islam in the XI. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is also on the team. Hasan Murad, who is yet to make debut for Bangladesh, is overlooked despite registering a hat-trick in the practice match ahead of the main series. Bangladesh haven’t had the best track record against the West Indies in Tests, having won just four out of twenty encounters. This time around, they'll be fielding a rather youthful side with several seasoned players missing. With Najmul Hossain Shanto out, the selectors have turned to Shahadat Hossain Dipu, a batsman with a decent first-class record. Dipu played 33 matches in first-class cricket and scored over 1700 runs with three centuries. In the absence of Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh only have one all-rounder in Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who will also lead the team in this series. Relatively inexperienced Bangladesh team will be hoping to young guns to fire under new captain. The second and final Test of the series will be played from November 30 in Kingston. Bangladesh XI: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Shahadat Hossain, Litton Das (wk), Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam West Indies XI: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Mikyle Louis, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales.  

Bangladesh and Sweden on Thursday discussed moving the RMG product line of the former vertically, as has been evident from European market demand. Bangladesh also suggested to explore possibilities of bringing in Swedish brand IKEA’s manufacturing to the country, especially in wood-based products. The Swedish side apprised that while IKEA is already sourcing fabric based products, they would take it up with stakeholders to chart out further opportunities in manufacturing and warehousing in Bangladesh. Nicolas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, paid an introductory courtesy call on Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and discussed the issues. The Swedish Ambassador expressed his deep condolences, at the very outset, towards the martyrs of the July-August student-led mass uprising. He underscored Sweden’s strong support to the Interim Government and their readiness to support the injured. The Adviser welcomed the proposal and informed about the Interim Government’s initiatives in ensuring treatments for the injured. He shared that reform is the cornerstone of the Interim Government’s mandate, based on the will of the masses. Read: Sweden, UN Women sign $7.1m deal to advance gender equality in Bangladesh Hossain highlighted that people and media are free to express their opinions whatsoever, unlike during the fallen regime’s tenure. Overall, the change from the very political culture of arrest and brutal exclusion of the opposition to a democratic one is what the Interim Government is working towards, said the foreign adviser. The ambassador also reiterated continued Swedish support for the Rohingyas and opined to explore other avenues to meet the growing needs therein. The foreign adviser took note of it and called for continued support in ending this protracted crisis.

China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd (CPPEC) has been chosen to operate and maintain (O&M) Bangladesh’s first single point mooring (SPM) with double pipeline project. The decision was approved in principle on Thursday by the Advisors Council Committee on Economic Affairs (ACCEA), chaired by Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. The proposal, submitted by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, was approved under the direct purchase method (DPM). However, meeting officials noted that the detailed proposal was not presented during the session. Full details will be reviewed in the upcoming meeting of the Advisors Council Committee on Government Purchase. The SPM, built on 90 acres of land in Maheshkhali upazila, Cox's Bazar, is a government-to-government (G2G) initiative between Bangladesh and China, completed at a cost of Tk 8,341 crore. The state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) undertook the project to streamline the offloading of petroleum products and their transportation via pipeline. The facility features a 36-inch-wide pipeline that transports crude oil from the mooring point to storage tanks at Kalamarchara in Matarbari. From there, the oil is moved 220 kilometers to the Eastern Refinery in Patenga, Chittagong, via an 18-inch-wide pipeline. The entire 110-km pipeline connects the deep-sea mooring point to the refinery. According to officials, the SPM will significantly improve the efficiency of fuel offloading, reducing the time required to transfer imported petroleum from 11-12 days via lighterage ships to just 48 hours. This transition is expected to save approximately Tk 800 crore annually.

Former Secretary AMM Md Nasir Uddin has been appointed as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the Bangladesh Election Commission.    Along with him, four election commissioners have been appointed.. The commissioners are former Additional Secretary Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, former District and Sessions Judge Abdur Rahman Masud, former Joint Secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmad and Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah. Read: Search Committee will appoint honest, fearless Election Commission members: Cabinet secretary President Mohammed Shahabuddin has appointed them following section 118 (1) of the Constitution. The orders will be effective soon. Two separate notifications, signed by Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid were issued in this regard on Thursday.