United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to attend at least 10 events, including delivering his speech at the Earthna Summit-2025 on Tuesday as he begins a series of engagements in the capital city of gas-rich Gulf kingdom. Prof Yunus will attend the opening ceremony of the Earthana Summit - 2025 from 9am to 10am (Doha time), his Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB.  In his inspiring speech, the Chief Adviser is likely to highlight the role of social business, financial inclusion, and microfinance in fostering sustainable development and economic opportunities for marginalised communities. He relentlessly devotes his time and energy to inspire people into creating a world of 3 Zeros - zero net carbon emission, zero wealth concentration for ending poverty once for all and zero unemployment by unleashing entrepreneurship in everyone. Prof Yunus arrived at Hamad International Airport in Doha at 9:40pm, local time.  He was received with a red carpet reception by Ambassador Ibrahim Fakhroo, the Chief of Protocol of Qatar and Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Md. Nazrul Islam upon his arrival at Hamad International Airport. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, among others, are accompanying the Chief Adviser. Qatar, once one of the poorest Gulf states, is one of the richest countries in the region today. Prof Yunus will attend the welcome reception with VVIP guests of the Summit before joining the opening session of the Summit. The reception will be hosted by Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson & CEO of Qatar Foundation at Mandarin Oriental Hotel. After the opening session of the Summit, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, mother of the Amir of the State of Qatar and Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, will meet Prof Yunus.  Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairpersonand CEO, Qatar Foundation will be present during the meeting. Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of QFFD and Nawaf Abdullah Al Hammadi, Assistant CEO for International Operations Sector of Qatar Charity will also meet the Chief Adviser separately.  Prof Yunus will attend the lunch to be hosted by Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO, Qatar Foundation. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs of Qatar will meet the Chief Adviser and will discuss issues of mutual interest.  Prof Yunus in Doha to attend Earthna Summit with series of meetings planned Al Jazeera has invited the Chief Adviser to its headquarters where they will interview him, his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said. Acting Managing Director, Director of News, Managers of input and output will receive the Chief Adviser there. Qatar Foundation media team will also interview Prof Yunus.  In the evening on Tuesday (5:30pm to 6:30pm), Prof Yunus will attend a private business reception in honor of his visit. He is scheduled to discuss the issues of mutual interest with the leadership of the gas-rich Gulf kingdom. Bangladesh is eyeing a stronger economic cooperation with Qatar and greater engagement in the energy sector. .The Chief Adviser is paying the visit at the invitation of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. Dr Yunus is likely to have meetings with both the Amir of Qatar and the Deputy Prime Minister in addition to other engagements. Since there is a long-term agreement with Qatar on LNG import, Press Secretary Alam said Bangladesh will have a discussion on greater energy sector cooperation. He said there will be an investment Summit on April 23 from which Bangladesh expects positive response. CA Prof Yunus' Arrival in Qatar  Bangladesh stressed the need for a deepening trade and investment relationship with Qatar. Press Secretary Alam said the visa issues will also be discussed. He said there will be an event on the Rohingya issue where global stakeholders will participate. Alam hoped that the Rohingya issue would be brought back to global attention as there are efforts from the interim government. Earthna Summit The second edition of the Earthna Summit under the theme “Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge” highlights Qatar’s commitment to advancing sustainability in hot and arid environments, by drawing on its rich cultural heritage and unique ecosystems. Want to be good, close neighbours, says Prof Yunus seeking stronger Dhaka-Beijing ties  The Summit serves as a platform for exploring how both traditional knowledge and innovation approaches can inform modern sustainability, shaping a more resilient and inclusive future. During the two days – April 22-23, the Earthna Summit will explore a wide range of topics through presentations, interactive panel discussions, workshops and roundtables. Besides, the Earthna Village in Barahat Msheireb will host a series of inspiring talks and discussions led by various experts and innovators to foster dialogue and inspiration. A number of side events by partners will host a series of networking activations and discussions lead by local stakeholders. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return home on April 25.    

Germany on Thursday said it views Bangladesh as a "strategic partner" in trade, investment, and sustainable development. "All participants were deeply impressed by the business opportunities in various manufacturing sectors beyond the textile industry," said Executive Board Member of OAV-German Asia-Pacific Business Delegation Almut Roessner as the German business stakeholder delegation concluded a five-day visit to Bangladesh. With total bilateral trade valued at USD 9.81 billion in 2024, this visit reaffirmed Germany’s "confidence in Bangladesh’s economic potential" and its commitment to building resilient and future-oriented partnerships, he said. For Bangladeshi firms expanding their production to meet growing local and international demand, Roessner said German suppliers of specialised machinery and automation technology are highly attractive partners. German parties reach a deal to form new government "Our multiple discussions with representatives of the interim government left us with the clear impression of a strong commitment to establishing a lasting reform agenda aimed at attracting more diverse investment to the country." The delegation participated in the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 and engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in Dhaka and Chattogram. The delegation included representatives from the German Federal Government, German business associations, and leading German enterprises. Over the course of the visit, delegates met with senior government representatives, attended sectoral discussions at the Bangladesh Investment Summit. They visited key industrial sites such as the German-Bangladeshi Joint Venture Hana System Ltd. in Gazipur, the WALTON Group, and logistics and ship recycling operations in Chattogram. Site visits also included German-affiliated factories and infrastructure projects, offering a first-hand look at Bangladesh’s evolving investment landscape, according to the Embassy of Germany in Dhaka. Germany sees promising efforts to further improve business environment in Bangladesh The delegation was organised in cooperation with OAV – the German Asia-Pacific Business Association, which supports bilateral business cooperation and strengthens Germany’s presence in emerging markets across Asia.

Nestled in the heart of the city, the Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Center offers a glimpse into the city’s fascinating history, sustainable development, and dynamic future, while the iconic Canton Tower lights up the skyline with its breathtaking display of innovation and design. These landmarks highlight why this city is a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts and casual tourists alike. Gateway to Yesterday and Tomorrow: Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Center The Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Center isn't just another museum. Encased in a shimmering glass veneer, this center captivates from the first step inside, where a sprawling scale model of Guangzhou commands attention, portraying the intricate dance between the city’s historical layers and its leaps towards tomorrow. Navigating through the center, each floor unfolds like chapters in a sci-fi novel, from Guangzhou’s humble beginnings to its thrust into the megacity league. Augmented reality setups bring a zest of magic, transforming static urban models into dynamic landscapes bustling with potential life. Here, technology meets urban planning, creating immersive narratives that celebrate both the city's heritage and its high-tech horizon. Read more: Bangladesh and Qatar to sign 6 deals, 5 MoUs during Qatar Emir’s state visit, says foreign minister One can't help but be inspired by the city's ambitious vision to blend sustainability with urban growth. The center not only educates about urban planning but also ignites imaginations about the cities of the future.

Power secretary Md Habibur Rahman has sought the leading global companies' collaboration with the Bangladesh power sector for its sustainable development. "Switching to hydrogen fuel for power generation in the future is one example, where global companies like GE, having tremendous experience in the field, can collaborate with us," he said while addressing a seminar titled: "Powering Smart Bangladesh" at a city hotel on Tuesday. American company GE (General Electric) hosted the seminar, which was also addressed by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) chairman Mahbubur Rahman, and chief executive officer of GE Gas Power South Asia, Deepesh Nanda. The power secretary said Bangladesh will also welcome the tested technologies in the power and energy sector to reduce carbon emissions. Also Read: Bangladesh number one place to engage 3 big powers and play a bridging role: Prof Kanti Bajpai "We're keen to invest in technologies that are already tested and can help Bangladesh to reduce carbon emissions quickly", he said He noted that the government is prioritising the introduction of policy interventions that can support the development of clean energy infrastructure in Bangladesh and contribute towards economic growth of the country by effectively meeting the power demand in the future. The central theme of the seminar was leading a new era of clean energy by focusing on GE’s advanced gas turbine technology, which is capable of burning blends of hydrogen and natural gas, to lead the energy transition in Bangladesh and decarbonise it further. It was informed in the event that GE has more than 120 gas turbines globally that are running on between 5 percent (by volume) and 100 percent hydrogen, and have accumulated more than 8.5 million operating hours. In a move to lead the global energy transition, GE announced in 2022 the spin-off of GE Vernova as a purpose-built business, that highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability and elevating its position as a key player in the energy industry that empowers climate action in all markets. BPDB chairman Mahbubur Rahman said Bangladesh is already a power surplus nation with 100 percent coverage of electricity, and now our focus is to supply reliable electricity in an uninterrupted manner. "We are deploying the latest technologies and digital solutions to make the power infrastructure more robust, and I see GE Vernova, a new company, through its comprehensive portfolio, playing a crucial role in taking this journey forward", he said. "GE Vernova can also help us in meeting the Smart Bangladesh Vision in the future,” he added. GE Gas Power South Asia CEO Deepesh Nanda said his company remains committed to leading a new era of clean energy in Bangladesh. "Today, GE’s technology is powering multiple power plants in the country and our power services are helping the power plant owners to use the fuel efficiently while generating electricity at lower cost", he said. "GE will continue to offer a comprehensive portfolio of powering solutions distinguished by our commitment to quality, productivity, cost effectiveness and safety standards.” He said as Bangladesh diversifies its energy mix, GE’s hybrid power solutions can create an ecosystem in Bangladesh to supply electricity on round-the-clock basis in future. Managing director of Ashuganj Power Station Company Ltd., Sazzadur Rahman, director general of Power Cell Mohammad Hossain, Global Hydrogen Value Chain Leader, GE Power Jeffrey Goldmeer also spoke at the event.    

Mathilde, the Queen of Belgium, will visit the largest refugee camp in the world – Kutupalong in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday which hosts more than a million Rohingyas. The Queen, who is paying a three-day visit to Bangladesh in her capacity as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) advocate, visited a garment factory in Narayanganj and a UNICEF school in Dhaka on Monday. The company aims to be a “role model” for the textile industry in Bangladesh and is “committed” to meeting all social, ethical and environmental standards. Earlier, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received her upon her arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday morning. Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Ambassador of Belgium to Bangladesh Didier Vanderhasselt and Ambassador and Special Advisor to the Queen Jean-Louis Six, among others, were also present. The Belgian Queen plans to measure and support the progress made in Bangladesh in the areas of girls’ education, women’s economic empowerment, fight against domestic violence and mental health awareness. She is also interested in responses to environmental problems. She will pay courtesy calls on President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and will visit projects linked to flooding in Khulna. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will host a dinner in honour of the Queen on Tuesday. The Queen is scheduled to return to Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday evening. As one of the 17 SDG Advocates of the UN, she will visit projects in Dhaka and Khulna districts.“Agenda 2030 requires citizens, civil society, academia, scientists, philanthropic organisations, and the private sector to work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ownership and participation are key,” the UN quoted the queen as saying. The SDG advocates are 17 inspiring, influential people raising global awareness of the SDGs and the need for accelerated action. They use their unique global platforms to raise ambition around the SDGs and reach the most vulnerable first. SDG advocates are strong public figures dedicated to peace, prosperity and the planet, rallying behind the vision of a better world and inspiring others to do the same. Queen Mathilde ascended the throne in 2013. She is the honorary president of Child Focus, a foundation for missing and sexually exploited children, and UNICEF Belgium. In 2001, she established the Princess Mathilde Fund (now the Queen Mathilde Fund) to promote the care of vulnerable people. As an SDG advocate, she is particularly focused on mental health.

The Swiss government has joined hands with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh to provide the Bangladesh government with support for gender equality and the promotion of peace, justice and strong institutions. The $5.53 million deal for the Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) Programme was penned at the UNDP office in Dhaka on Tuesday. Read more: Landslides remain most substantial damaging, recurrent hazards in Cox’s Bazar: UNDP Suzanne Mueller, Head of Cooperation and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh and UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. “We need to strongly integrate SDG16 & SDG5 for inclusive economic development, gender equality, governance, & human rights for agenda 2030 and I firmly believe this new SIPS initiative will contribute to that," Suzanne said at the signing. “We are grateful to Switzerland for our longstanding partnership and commitment to jointly support Bangladesh in achieving Agenda 2030 - particularly by strengthening its institutions and promoting good governance,” said Stefan Liller. Read more: Safe Digital Space: AUW, UNDP to promote intercommunal, religious harmony Despite Bangladesh’s magnificent strides in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, a lot still needs to be done in terms of governance indicators. More importantly, the government of Bangladesh has emphasised strengthening democratic institutions at both the national and local levels. The new programme targets three major outcomes - strengthening the capacities of Bangladesh’s bureaucracy to deliver on SDG 16 and SDG 5, making institutions of public oversight more people-centric and effectively fulfil their mandates and strengthening the policy environment to sustain SDG results and integrating SDGs into routine government operations and partnerships. Swiss embassy’s Senior Programme Manager for Economic Governance Sohel Ibn Ali, UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Van Nguyen, Assistant Resident Representative, Anowarul Haq, Senior Governance Advisor, Md Mozammel Haque, and Senior Governance Specialist, Sheela Tasneem Haq, were also present at the signing.

State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam has proposed to establish a separate ministry for the blue economy or a separate division under the Ministry of Science and Technology. He emphasized on the contribution of the blue economy to Bangladesh’s future sustainable development endeavors. While speaking as the chief guest at a seminar, the State Minister emphasized on two specific issues for the sustainable development and proper utilization of the blue economy - resource exploration and resource exploitation. He also highlighted the importance of knowledge mobilization and conducting research on the subject matter. Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the hybrid seminar on “Blue Economy and Maritime Security: Bangladesh Perspective” on Thursday. Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd) Md. Khurshed Alam attended the seminar as a special guest. BIISS Chairman Kazi Imtiaz Hossain chaired the inaugural session while its Director General Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman delivered the welcome remarks. The BIISS DG emphasized on creating a blue economy belt to utilize the huge untapped resources of the vast area of the sea. Kazi Imtiaz Hossai stressed ensuring maritime security and harnessing the potential of the blue economy. Secretary Khurshed Alam highlighted the potential of marine resources in the country’s economy along with some of the challenges. In the working session, four presentations were made. Dr. Abul Kalam Azad, Professor of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University, made a presentation on “Blue Economy and Ocean Governance: Bangladesh Perspective”. Read: Bangladesh’s Blue Economy Cell falters; no progress in 4 yrs A presentation titled “Maritime Security and Strategy in the Bay of Bengal” was made by Professor Dr Delwar Hossain, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, and Member, Bangladesh Public Service Commission. Moutusi Islam, BIISS Research Fellow made a presentation on “Nexus between Maritime Security and Blue Economy: Implications for Bangladesh in Post-Covid Era”. A presentation titled “Bangladesh’s Economic Prospect in the Bay of Bengal” was made by Dr Mahfuz Kabir, BIISS Research Director. The working session was chaired by Ambassador M Humayun Kabir, President, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI). Senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors and high commissioners, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, think tanks, business personalities, students and teachers from different universities participated in the open session. They stressed the importance of the blue economy and marine resources to the country’s economy and future development endeavors. They also highlighted different issues of maritime security in the context of Bangladesh.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday underlined the need for protecting the environment to ensure sustainable development in the country. “For sustainable development there should be coordination with environment and development. Otherwise, development cannot be sustainable,” she said. The premier was speaking at the Tree Fair and Campaign for Tree Plantation programme to mark the World Environment Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC). Also read: PM: South Asia needs to boost cooperation to end poverty Hasina virtually joined the event from her official residence Ganobhaban. The theme for World Environment Day this year is “Only One Earth”, with focus on “living sustainably in harmony with nature”. The PM said that while going for development that everyone has to adopt the nature based solution. “This is urgently needed,” she said. She said that every development project in the country has to fulfill one condition: to plant at least five trees for each tree felled for it. Bangladesh, she said, needs development for improving the people’s lives. But the development must be fairly balanced with the nature and environment, she observed. She mentioned her government is setting up 100 economic zones across the country to prevent indiscriminate industrialization and preserve the arable lands. She said these projects have provision of harvesting rain water to preserve the ground water. The PM reiterated her call not to leave a single inch of arable land uncultivated as the world is under threat of scarcity of food grains due to Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war. “Our land is fertile and we have manpower, we have to produce our own crops, we will produce whatever we need, we will have to shun our dependency on others,” she said. She said the manpower of Environment Ministry has been increased to 1133 from 265, the environment directorate office has been set up in 50 districts and gradually every district will get an office. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin, Deputy Minister Habibun Nahar, chairman of parliamentary affairs committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Saber Hossain Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion while its Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed gave the address of welcome.

In keeping with this year's Mother Earth Day theme "Harmony with Nature and Biodiversity: Ecological economics and Earth-centered law," UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Abdulla Shahid Friday called for a shift to green economies. "Nature is suffering. Oceans are filling with plastic and turning more acidic; extreme heat, wildfires and floods have affected millions; and we are still facing Covid-19, a worldwide health pandemic linked to the health of our ecosystem," the senior UN official said. "Science has shown that our continued and careless encroachment into the world's ecosystems" has damaged biodiversity and endangered human health and well-being." The international community needs to use the tools and targets of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as blueprints for a sustainable recovery from Covid, Abdulla said. Climate change, man-made changes to nature as well as crimes that disrupt biodiversity, such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production or the growing illegal wildlife trade, can accelerate the speed of destruction of the planet. This is the first Mother Earth Day celebrated within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier the ecosystems are, the healthier the planet and its people will be. Restoring the damaged ecosystems will help end poverty, combat climate change and prevent mass extinction, says the UN.

The future of sustainable development will hinge on the fate of cities as more than half of the world's population now live in urban environments, a number likely to rise to nearly 70 percent by 2050, according to the UN officials. "The actions we take now must lead us to…a new social integration based on the principles of prosperity, transformation, adaptation, equity and respect for human rights," said Martha Delgado, president of the UN-Habitat Assembly Thursday. Highlighting urbanisation as one of today's great megatrends, she called for resilient, sustainable "smart cities" that are more inclusively governed and better prepared to navigate future shocks and crises. "Sustainable development will hinge on how we manage urbanisation," Economic and Social Council President Collen Vixen Kelapile said, adding that current discussions should be framed in the context of responding to Covid response and the climate crisis. Around 1.2 billion people in the global South now live in informal settlements and slums and they have long struggled to prevent disease transmissions, now including Covid, Collen added. In the global North, dependence on welfare, where available, increased manifold during the pandemic and many people entered the ranks of the homeless. In response, cities have deployed creative actions and provided services in underserved areas, while new urban models are beginning to pay more attention to pedestrians and mixed land uses. "The world's cities have been absorbing much of Covid's socio-economic impact," UN-Habitat chief Maimunah Mohd Sharif said.   "However, that has often resulted in closer cooperation between national and local governments, which, in turn, has led to greater reclamation, greening and inclusive use of public space." "Cities can spearhead innovations to bridge the inequalities gaps, deliver climate action and ensure a green and inclusive Covid recovery," said Amina Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the UN and chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group. "Urban spaces connect the dots on many of today's global challenges."