United News of Bangladesh

Malaysia began sending Myanmar nationals back to their country Tuesday under a voluntary repatriation program, despite warnings from the United Nations refugee agency and rights groups that parts of Myanmar remain unsafe. The first group of 1,476 people is among about 5,000 Myanmar nationals expected to return to Myanmar in stages. Malaysia’s Home Ministry said 10,388 Myanmar nationals were being held at immigration detention centers across the country as of Aug. 15. A ministry official confirmed that the repatriation process began Tuesday. Buses believed to be carrying returnees arrived at a stadium in Manjung, in central Malaysia’s Perak state, amid tight security. Ships believed to belong to Myanmar were also seen docked at the nearby Lumut naval base. The ministry said those in the first group had agreed to return voluntarily and would be transported using two Myanmar navy ships and a hospital vessel. Details about the returnees and their individual circumstances were not immediately available. Myanmar has faced armed conflict and political instability since its military seized power in 2021. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees and rights organizations have urged Malaysia to proceed cautiously, saying security and humanitarian conditions in parts of Myanmar remain unstable and returnees could face serious risks. Malaysia hosts about 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR, including around 126,000 Rohingya Muslims. The country has one of Southeast Asia’s largest refugee populations. However, Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and generally treats refugees as undocumented migrants. The Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination and persecution in Myanmar, where authorities have largely denied them citizenship and refused to recognize them as an ethnic group. In Malaysia, they have also faced increasing public criticism linked to concerns about employment, public services, security and the size of the refugee population, as well as misinformation and inflammatory posts on social media. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended the repatriation program, describing it as part of diplomatic efforts to find a long-term solution. He has said Malaysia cannot continue hosting refugees indefinitely and that Myanmar should take responsibility for its citizens. Anwar said he plans to invite Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia to discuss the long-running issue of refugees and undocumented migrants. “I am inviting him to say that we can be friends and trade, we can accept Myanmar, but Myanmar must accept them back,” Anwar said in a podcast posted online Sept. 16. He said such engagement would be more effective than simply criticizing Myanmar. Myanmar Foreign Ministry official Han Win Aung said the latest program follows similar repatriation operations in 2021 and 2022, when Myanmar received more than 1,100 nationals from Malaysia. He said the current program involves Myanmar citizens and is not intended to repatriate Rohingya people.

Malaysia will begin the process of recruiting 200,000 Bangladeshi workers by the end of September, with the process expected to be completed within six months, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam said on Sunday. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a meeting between Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mohd Shuhada Othman and LGRD and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan at the Secretariat. Malaysia labour market to reopen for Bangladeshis under transparent process: Govt “The manpower export from Bangladesh will begin in by the end of September and will be completed within the next six months,” he said, citing the high commissioner. Asked about the number of workers to be recruited, Shahe Alam said, “A total of 200,000 will go through their listed companies.” He said Malaysia will also take an additional 10,000 Bangladeshi workers at zero cost, meaning the workers will not have to bear any recruitment-related expenses. “That will also begin in phases towards the end of September,” he said. Responding to a question about whether the meeting discussed a letter sent by the Bangladesh government to Malaysia regarding the import of LNG, the state minister said the issue did not come up for discussion.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought Malaysia’s support in addressing the country’s gas supply challenge and cooperation with Malaysian state-owned energy company PETRONAS for the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The request came during a telephone conversation between Tarique Rahman and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday, according to a Facebook post by the Malaysian Prime Minister. “We touched on various issues related to efforts to strengthen Malaysia-Bangladesh relations, particularly in the energy and investment sectors for mutual benefit”, wrote the Malaysian PM. “Among the key issues raised was the challenge of gas supply that Bangladesh is facing, which is why he is seeking Malaysia's assistance, including through cooperation with PETRONAS to supply LNG to help meet the country's urgent needs,” he added. In the telephone conversation, economic cooperation, including the progress of investments involving Axiata, and the potential for strategic cooperation with MMC Port were also discussed to strengthen economic relations and open up more opportunities for both countries, said Anwar Ibrahim. He said Malaysia will continue to be committed to strengthening the long-standing friendship with Bangladesh, based on a spirit of mutual respect, pragmatic cooperation, and a commitment to bring benefits to the people of both countries.

Bangladesh on Monday invited Malaysian companies to invest in Bangladesh’s energy sector including in exploration of oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal, extraction of untapped minerals like coal, limestone including renewable energy transition, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two countries emphasised the importance of fully leveraging the agreed MoU between Bangladesh and Malaysia governments on co-operation in the field of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply, LNG infrastructure, petroleum products, and its infrastructure for direct bilateral LNG discussion between PETRONAS and PetroBangla, according to a joint statement shared by the Ministry. Both sides also encouraged cooperation between relevant national energy companies and private sector stakeholders to promote long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships that contribute to energy security, sustainability, and economic development in both countries.

A red carpet was rolled out as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday night on his maiden overseas visit after assuming office, at the invitation of his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. A special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and the accompanying delegation landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 8:45pm local time (6:45pm Bangladesh time). At the exclusive VVIP terminal Bunga Raya Complex, the Prime Minister was received by Malaysia's Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan and his wife. A little girl presented a bouquet to Zubaida Rahman at that time. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury and Deputy High Commissioner Mosammat Shahanara Monica were also present. A red-carpet reception and a static guard of honour were accorded to the Prime Minister at the airport. A ceremonial motorcade with a 50-minute ride on road is taking him to Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, where he will stay during the visit.  

Bangladesh and China are expected to sign 15-17 bilateral instruments during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s official visit to the East Asian country, as the leaders of the two nations plan to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues and elevate their ‘Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ to a new height. The instruments may include 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), two agreements, one action plan and one protocol, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam told reporters at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. There is likely to be a certain level of financial support allocated for projects in Bangladesh during the visit, a diplomatic source told UNB. The Prime Minister will visit China from June 23 to 26 at the invitation of Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. The bilateral instruments will be signed in the presence of the two leaders following their bilateral meeting on June 25 in Beijing.The Prime Minister will also attend a state banquet hosted in his honour by his Chinese counterpart. Apart from the bilateral meeting with the Chinese Premier on June 25, Prime Minister Tarique will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 26. He is scheduled to return home on Friday night. There will be discussions on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP), the Foreign Secretary said. Four Global Initiatives Asked about Dhaka’s position on the four global initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Foreign Secretary said Bangladesh is considering the initiatives positively and that further decisions may become clear following the visit. The Chinese President has put forward four global initiatives - the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) and Global Governance Initiative (GGI) - as responses to contemporary global challenges. The Foreign Secretary said the size of the Prime Minister’s delegation to China has been kept relatively small, comprising 28 members. “We tried to keep it at a logical level,” he said. He said the current government is pursuing an independent and balanced foreign policy guided by the principle of ‘Bangladesh First’. Since assuming office, the Prime Minister has maintained close contact with heads of state and government from various countries and has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to safeguard Bangladesh’s interests, the Foreign Secretary said. “As part of these efforts, the Prime Minister will visit Malaysia on June 21-22 and China on June 23-26,” the Foreign Secretary said. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is organising an investment summit titled ‘Bangladesh Investment Forum’, where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will deliver a speech highlighting Bangladesh’s investment climate and potential before Chinese business leaders and invite greater investment in the country. “The visit is expected to take the ‘Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ to a new height and open new horizons of cooperation between the two countries,” the Foreign Secretary said. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s twin visits to Malaysia and China, beginning on Sunday, represent a strategic diplomatic initiative aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s economic partnerships, attracting foreign investment and enhancing connectivity. The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave for Kuala Lumpur on Sunday afternoon at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the Foreign Secretary said. From Kuala Lumpur, he will depart for China on Monday afternoon. This will be the first overseas visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman since his government assumed office in February this year. Summer Davos Forum During his official visit to China, the Prime Minister will attend the World Economic Forum’s 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the 2026 Summer Davos Forum.The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions will be held in the port city of Dalian, in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, from June 23 to 25, organisers announced earlier this week. More than 1,700 participants from over 90 countries and regions are expected to attend the meeting, and preparations for the event are largely complete, according to an event spokesperson. This year’s meeting, themed “Innovating at Scale,” will feature discussions on topics including the next phase of China’s economic trajectory and ways to translate technological advances into tangible economic benefits. Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priority Matters) AKM Shahidul Karim and other senior officials of the ministry were present at the media briefing.

Malaysia on Monday started enforcing new rules that prohibit children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts, joining a growing number of countries seeking to improve online safety for young users. Under the new regulations, social media companies must introduce age-verification systems and prevent users younger than 16 from creating accounts. The rules apply to platforms with at least 8 million users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Companies that fail to follow the regulations could face fines of up to 10 million ringgit (about $2.5 million). However, parents will not be punished if their children manage to bypass the restrictions. The Malaysian government said the measures are designed to protect children from harmful online content, cyberbullying and platform features that encourage excessive screen time and addictive use. Malaysia joins countries such as Australia, Brazil and Indonesia, which have already introduced or announced restrictions on children's access to social media. Several other nations, including Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea, are also considering similar measures. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said the rules are not intended to block children from using the internet or digital technology. Instead, they aim to ensure that service providers take greater responsibility for online safety and put age-appropriate protections in place. “These measures help strengthen the protection of children in the online environment, while providing added reassurance to parents in navigating increasingly complex digital risks,” the regulator said in a statement issued last month. Social media platforms will also be required to introduce safety features that discourage compulsive use and take stronger action against underage accounts and harmful content. Technology companies have not yet explained how they will fully comply with the new requirements. The regulator said platforms will be given a grace period to complete the rollout of age-verification systems. In April, Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, warned that a blanket ban on users under 16 could have unintended consequences by pushing teenagers toward less-regulated parts of the internet. She noted that Meta has already introduced “teen accounts” for users under 18, with restrictions on contact, screen time and exposure to inappropriate content. Malaysia’s move comes as governments worldwide face increasing pressure to address concerns about the impact of social media on children's mental health and online safety. In March, a US jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay millions of dollars in damages in a case that alleged certain platform design features contributed to harm suffered by a young user. While many parents have welcomed the new rules, privacy advocates have raised concerns about the age-verification process. Benjamin Loh, a social science lecturer at Monash University Malaysia, said the requirement for government-issued identification to verify age has sparked concerns over personal data protection. He also questioned the effectiveness of age-based restrictions, noting that experiences in other countries have shown mixed results. Since parents face no penalties, he said, families could easily bypass the rules by creating accounts on behalf of their children. “Unless regulators address this loophole, the law may have limited success in preventing children from using social media,” Loh said.

Malaysia has announced an immediate and complete ban on the import of electronic waste, declaring it will no longer allow itself to become a dumping ground for hazardous waste from abroad. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said late Wednesday that all electronic waste, or e-waste, has been reclassified under the “absolute prohibition” category with immediate effect. The move removes the discretion previously held by the Department of Environment to approve exemptions for importing certain types of e-waste. MACC chief Azam Baki said e-waste imports are now strictly prohibited and pledged firm and coordinated enforcement to prevent illegal shipments from entering the country. Malaysia has struggled for years with large volumes of imported e-waste, much of it suspected to be illegal and harmful to both human health and the environment. Authorities have seized hundreds of containers at ports in recent years and ordered many shipments to be returned to their countries of origin. Spain moves to ban social media use for children under 16 Environmental groups have repeatedly called for tougher measures, warning that e-waste such as discarded computers, mobile phones and household appliances often contains toxic substances and heavy metals, including lead, mercury and cadmium, which can contaminate soil and water if mishandled. The ban comes as authorities expand a corruption investigation linked to e-waste management. Last week, the MACC detained and remanded the director-general of the Department of Environment and his deputy over alleged abuse of power and corruption related to e-waste oversight. Investigators have also frozen bank accounts and seized cash connected to the case. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Home Ministry said in a social media post that the government would step up efforts to curb e-waste smuggling. “Malaysia is not a dumping ground for the world’s waste,” the ministry said, adding that e-waste poses a serious threat to the environment, public health and national security.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 10 (Xinhua/UNB) — Two giant pandas from China, named “Chenxing” and “Xiaoyue,” made their first public appearance in Malaysia on Saturday. A milestone moment: Indonesia’s first giant Panda cub revealed The panda pair, which is on loan to Malaysia, was formally introduced to visitors during a special ceremony at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at Zoo Negara, the country’s national zoo. The debut followed a period of quarantine and adjustment to their new environment. Meet Jia Jia and De De, Hong Kong's first locally born giant pandas Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attended the event as the guest of honor, alongside senior government officials and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing. Giant Panda "Yi Yi" celebrates second birthday in Malaysia

The release of Vijay’s highly awaited film Jana Nayagan has been officially delayed in several overseas markets, including the UK, the US, Canada and Malaysia, following an ongoing dispute related to its censor certification. The postponement was confirmed on January 7 by the film’s international distributors, just two days before its scheduled theatrical release. Distributors confirm delay Read More: Leonardo DiCaprio on the importance of creating cinema over content at Palm Springs Film Festival Overseas distributors announced the decision through statements shared on X. The Malaysian distributor said the film’s planned January 9, 2026 release has been pushed back due to unexpected circumstances, adding that they are awaiting further direction from the production team. The distributor noted that a revised release date will be announced once it is finalised and urged fans to remain patient. Supporters were also asked not to circulate unverified or misleading information from unofficial sources, as several arrangements are still being worked out. Read More: Historic Ariana Cinema in Kabul demolished for shopping complex The statement concluded by appealing for calm and unity while awaiting a favourable resolution, thanking fans for their continued support. Source: NDTV