United News of Bangladesh

Highlighting the needs of the Rohingya refugees, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Monday said cross-border “assistance” can only work when individuals are safe on both sides of the border and when governments agree. “We have done cross-border assistance in other parts of the world, and it can work, but it can only work when individuals are safe on both sides of the border and when governments agree,” he said while responding to a question on the definition of a corridor versus the definition of a passage at the “DCAB talk” held at Jatiya Press Club. And those are the conditions, Ambassador Miller said, adding, “You cannot have a situation in which you try to work in this cross border way, but it merely attracts attention from violent perpetrators of crimes. So, these are the caveats that I would want to see in place now.” On the definition of a corridor versus the definition of a passage, Ambassador Miller, however, said he is unable to give an inside information but as a humanitarian partner for Bangladesh, they are quite happy to be pragmatic about how they can meet the needs of the refugees. “If the refugees are here, we will meet their needs here, if they are on the other side of the border, because the situation might one day improve. We will also look at how we can channel assistance to them there, because it can be cross border,” he mentioned. The Ambassador recognised that there is an enormous effort being made by Bangladesh hosting so many refugees from violence across the border. “And we also recognise that there are even new arrivals to this day, which illustrates that the violence continues and that Rohingya living in the Rakhine state still feel insecure,” he said. So, unfortunately, Miller said, this is a crisis that goes on and on despite the best efforts of Bangladesh and of partners like the European Union, where they are indeed trying very hard to support a political solution, which is the only solution to this crisis. He said the European Union imposed sanctions on members of the military regime and on those they consider to be perpetrating acts of unbelievable violence and cruelty on their own population on the other side of the border. “But allow me to speak a bit beyond the political wish; we have to see a solution. So in very practical terms, we are standing alongside your authorities in helping you cope with the refugee presence in Cox's Bazar,” said Ambassador Miller. He said they have contributed over half a billion euros in humanitarian assistance since this wave of refugees started to come to Bangladesh. “We have many conversations with the Bangladeshi authorities. Those conversations always conclude with a common understanding that return can only be safe, dignified and voluntary. We all know that the refugees should go back one day,” he said, adding that they cannot go back in circumstances where their lives are at risk. The European Union has maintained a consistent level of support over the past seven years. In 2025, the European Union has already allocated over EUR 32 million to support the Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi host communities. These funds are provided via the Joint Response Plan. The European Union also supports Rohingya refugees who have fled to other countries in the region, as well as the Rohingya who remain in Myanmar. Our total support for the Rohingya since 2017 equals nearly 1 billion EUR provided together by the EU and its Member States. Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the event where DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke at the event.

Visiting Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi on Monday informed Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus that Italy is willing to hire more people from Bangladesh and will undertake measures to ensure safe migration from the country. Matteo conveyed to the Chief Adviser that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit Bangladesh sometime before September, as Rome is keen to "renew" and "re-launch" its bilateral cooperation with Dhaka. The Italian Minister called on Prof Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna discussed issues of mutual interest, including safe and legal migration of Bangladeshis, combating human trafficking and trade and investment. “We have a great Bangladeshi community in Italy. We are really satisfied with the Bangladeshi community as they are young, hardworking, and have integrated into Italian society perfectly. We need more of them in Italy,” he said. Italy to support Bangladesh in curbing illegal migration: Adviser Jahangir “The reason I am here is to share with you that many of them rely on illegal means to reach Italy, which is dangerous. We want the ones who follow the legal framework,” the Italian Minister added. He said the uncontrolled arrival of migrants by sea is "very problematic" for the European nation and sought Bangladesh’s cooperation to eliminate illegal migration and organized crime. “We are here to propose a new way of cooperation policy.” The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh is eager to work with Italy to stop illegal migration and human trafficking. “Bangladeshis living in Italy are very grateful to the host country and appreciative of the way they are treated in Italy,” Prof Yunus said. He said there are international groups of people who try to lure them to Italy in an illegal way. "These are the people who create problems." Italy Embassy in Dhaka reaffirms commitment to combating visa corruption  

BRAC and European Union (EU) have signed an agreement to launch a new joint initiative aimed at strengthening integrated humanitarian support in Cox’s Bazar. The agreement, signed at the BRAC Centre in Mohakhali of Dhaka on Monday, marks the beginning of a project titled “Humanitarian-Development Coexistence Nexus to Address the Rohingya Crisis in Cox’s Bazar.” The deal was signed by Michael Miller, ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh, and Asif Saleh, executive director of BRAC, in the presence of senior representatives from both organisations. The project is grounded in the principles of cost-effectiveness, efficiency, accountability to affected populations (AAP), coexistence and community empowerment. The initiative is expected to benefit more than 125,000 Rohingya individuals and nearly 2,500 members of the host community, with a strong focus on the inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities. More than seven years since the onset of the Rohingya response in 2017, both refugee and host communities in Cox’s Bazar continue to face a protracted humanitarian crisis. Challenges such as declining funding, rising social pressures and parallel service delivery systems have placed growing demands on limited local resources. This project offers a mid-term, integrated solution by combining humanitarian and development approaches to enhance efficiency, accountability, and sustainability. It will empower communities through participation and capacity building, while promoting peaceful coexistence and cost-effective service delivery. With an investment of EUR 4.45 million (approximately BDT 62 crore), the project will support individuals from both Rohingya and host communities in Cox's Bazar over a 24-month period. Its best practices and lessons learned aim to contribute to a replicable model for other protracted humanitarian crises. The agreement underscores the shared commitment of BRAC and the European Union to delivering coordinated, effective and sustainable humanitarian assistance in one of the world’s most protracted displacement crises.

Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Monday said they need to deepen and widen the partnership with Bangladesh and for them the relationship is a strategic choice with respect for fundamental rights and the creation of economic opportunity. “And in saying this, I spoke about the fact that your prosperity is our prosperity, but your stability is also our stability. This is a highly interconnected world in which we live. So it's a partnership we are building,” he said while speaking at the “DCAB Talk” held at Jatiya Press Club. Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the event where DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke. Ambassador Miller said they are far and above partnering with countries which are in the process of developing because they believe that “your prosperity is our prosperity, too.” Noting that the world is an unstable place, the Ambassador said they are in the business of looking for partners everywhere, including in Bangladesh, for sharing the leadership on issues including on climate change. “I find this presents a moment of opportunity for the European Union to deepen and widen its partnership with Bangladesh,” he said. EU wants fair polls, says election timing an issue for Bangladesh to decide “We look to our partners, including here in Dhaka, to speak up vocally alongside us in defense of rules that protect us all. We are still building bridges with those who like us care about fair and rules-based trade as the basis for the creation of wealth and jobs for our citizens,” he mentioned. Sitting here as an observer eight months into his job, the Ambassador said Bangladesh’s political transition is a unique opportunity for the country to underpin respect for fundamental rights in Bangladesh to restore democracy and to let civil society breathe. “And in civil society, I include the media, of course.” The Ambassador said they are working on port safety with Bangladesh and on maritime security as well. “But given the level of insecurity in this world, we want to also see military to military cooperation between the EU military staff and the military here in Bangladesh.” He said they are working also on countering terrorism and countering violent extremism across the region, and that is equally an important area for them to continue to cooperate upon. On migration issues, he said they support safe, dignified and regular migration but unfortunately, migration can be irregular, undignified and extremely dangerous. “We prefer to look for legal pathways for migration, even if this is on a small scale, because what happens currently, regrettably, is that poor migrants try to reach Europe with a dream of prosperity, which we can all understand. But they are, in fact, exploited by traffickers and smugglers along the way, and they even lose their lives,” he said. And this is something that they need to put order into, said the Ambassador, adding that it is a shared interest. “I think, between the EU and Bangladesh, informing migrants about the risks or about the opportunities, is something that is extremely important to us,” he said. Ambassador Miller said they will continue to work towards ensuring a smooth graduation from LDC status for Bangladesh. UAE expedites visa Issuance for Bangladeshis following talks “You need a more complex value chain, in our view where you are building wealth for your citizens who are very talented individuals. We are, in return, expecting a level playing field for our trade and our investment,” he said, adding that Bangladesh needs to open up its economy in sectors where the private sector can bring world class technology. The Ambassador said they do want to see greater trade and investment between the EU and Bangladesh going in those directions.

A 25-year-old Bangladeshi youth, who was shot allegedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along Kasba border of Brahmbaria district on Sunday night, died at a Cumilla hospital on Monday morning. The victim was identified as Md Sakib, son of Abdul Motaleb of Guchhogram along Madal border under Bayek union of the upazila. 2 Bangladeshis return home after being picked up by BSF from Lalmomirhat border Md Samiul Islam, Kasba Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said Sakib had trespassed into India reportedly to smuggle motorbikes through his Indian cohort Sujan through Madla border on Sunday night. “Suspecting the presence of smugglers, the BSF personnel opened fire targeting them, leaving the pair critically injured,” he said.  Sakib was taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment on Monday morning, the UNO said.

Italy has expressed interest in recruiting Bangladeshi workers, said Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Jahangir said this while briefing reporters after a meeting with his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi at his office in Dhaka on Monday. The Italian government appreciates the hard work of Bangladeshi workers and is willing to hire more from Bangladesh legally, the adviser said. “They (Italy) said Bangladeshi workers are extremely hardworking ones. They want to bring in workers through legal means instead of encouraging the risky sea routes used by many via third countries. We also requested that those already in Italy through irregular routes be granted legal status,” said Jahangir Italy to support Bangladesh in curbing illegal migration: Adviser Jahangir The meeting also discussed enhancing cooperation between law enforcement agencies, including the police, coast guard and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Referring to the attack on NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah, the adviser said 54 people have already been brought under the law in connection with the incident. “No one involved in such acts will be spared,” he asserted.

Reiterating its support for the delivery of an ambitious reform agenda in Bangladesh, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union Michael Miller on Monday said the election timing is an issue for Bangladesh to decide and they are not pressuring on anyone to hold the election on a particular date. “I think that I have to say that timing is a matter for Bangladesh to take a decision upon. We see this political transition as leading up to democratic elections. So, that's the important milestone I mentioned. But as the European Union, we don't have an opinion about time, and we are not pressuring anyone to hold elections on a particular date,” he said while responding to a question at the “DCAB Talk” held at Jatiya Press Club. Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the event where DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke. Ambassador Miller said they are waiting for political parties and the interim government to agree on “very clearly prioritised and specific list of reforms” and noted that they do have experience which is helpful and financing which can support. And we have the political will to stand with you.” Election timing an issue for Bangladesh to decide: Ambassador Miller Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has recently said the people of Bangladesh think that the interim government is still the “good answer” for them but stressed that they will not go beyond June 2026 to hold the best election ever in the country. Prof Yunus, who is also Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, stressed the urgency of accelerating reform efforts to ensure that the national election is held between December this year and June 2026.  EU envoy visits BRAC University to discuss academic collaboration Ambassador Miller said they think that there needs to be sufficient time to implement the reforms under this interim government. Referring to their work with the Election Commission, he said they have been engaging to try to identify where the European Union can be most helpful in supporting the conduct of the elections in line with international standards. “We absolutely want the elections, when they are held, to be ones that we can look at and say, this is free and fair and the result is entirely credible,” said Ambassador Miller, adding that they we want to be part of that success story, because it will be a very significant milestone in Bangladesh’s political transition. He said they are also working to make sure that disinformation is not something that they see undermining the free and fair conduct of the elections when they happen. Based on deaths reported by various credible sources, the UN report estimated that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed between 1 July and 15 August, and thousands were injured, the vast majority of whom were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces. Responding to a question, the EU Ambassador said they support the work of the UN fact-finding mission and laid emphasis on accountability for those “terrible crimes” perpetrated against the people during the July Uprising. Highlighting the importance of Bangladesh’s judicial authorities’ evidence-based work, Ambassador Miller hoped that Bangladesh will deal with the terrible crimes perpetrated against its people. “There must be accountability. There must be transparent and fair process and the rights of every single person should be respected through due process,” he added.  Ambassador Miller said the interim government had inherited “very great number of challenges”, including on security, economy, financial fronts and rebuilding confidence takes time. Talking about women’s rights, the EU envoy said equality between men and women is the core value in Europe and it is a core universal value.  He said the work of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission should be examined extremely carefully and they support all efforts that ensure equality between men and women. “The report and the recommendations of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission are extremely important. We consider equality between men and women as core value of the EU,” said Ambassador Miller. He said the recommendations of the Commission should be looked at “extremely carefully and closely” by political parties because they would like to see those recommendations translated into actions. “We will contribute towards greater equality.” In response to a question on the Rohingya issue, Ambassador Miller said unfortunately this is a crisis that goes on despite the best efforts of Bangladesh and partners like the European Union. “There are enormous efforts being made by Bangladesh,” he said, adding that there is violence on the other side of the border. “We are indeed trying very hard to support a political solution which is the only solution to this crisis,” said Ambassador Miller. “I have to say, we have many conversations with the Bangladesh authorities, those conversations always concluded with a common understanding that return can only be in a safe, dignified, and voluntary manner,” he added. As a humanitarian partner for Bangladesh, Ambassador Miller said they are quite happy to be pragmatic on how they can meet the needs of the refugees. The European Union has maintained a consistent level of support over the past seven years. In 2025, the European Union has already allocated over EUR 32 million to support the Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi host communities. These funds are provided via the Joint Response Plan, which we are launching today. The European Union also supports Rohingya refugees who have fled to other countries in the region, as well as the Rohingya who remain in Myanmar. Our total support for the Rohingya since 2017 equals nearly 1 billion EUR provided together by the EU and its Member States.

Members of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) on Monday urged the government to expedite the reopening of the Malaysian labour market in the interest of Bangladeshi workers. Speaking at a human chain and memorandum submission event held in front of the Expatriates’ Welfare Bhaban in the capital, the BAIRA members emphasized the importance of the Malaysian market which stands as the country’s second largest after Saudi Arabia. They alleged that while the interim government is making strides to reopen the labour market through initiatives such as joint working group meetings certain vested quarters are actively working against national interests. “These groups are carrying out a destructive agenda on behalf of rival countries to sabotage the labour market,” they said. The speakers demanded that Bangladeshi workers be able to migrate to Malaysia under low cost and easy conditions. They warned that while 13 other source countries have complied with Malaysian government conditions and maintained access to its labour market, Bangladesh risks losing out. There is a demand for 1.2 million Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia. If this opportunity is lost, the country could lose nearly USD 5 billion in remittance, they said. Trump dubbed ‘Sith Lord’ after White House’s Star Wars Day AI post draws backlash The BAIRA members reiterated their commitment to cooperate with any government-approved process to send workers abroad. They said they area united and committed to providing maximum support. Speakers at the event included Farid Ahmed Mojumder (Al Supt Overseas), Mohammad Mohiuddin (Purabhi International), Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman (Earth Smart Bangladesh), AMS Sagar (EMS International), Mohammad Anwar Hossain Bhuiyan (Tasnim Overseas), Mohammad Atikur Rahman Biswas (Al Aqaba Associates), Sagar Mahmud (Al Gifari), Mohammad Moniruzzaman (Skyland Recruiting), Advocate Mohammad Sajjam Hossain (Arman Air International), Kafil Uddin Mojumder (Freedom Overseas), Hawlader Forqan Uddin (SF Global), and Dubai-based businessman Mohammad Alauddin. Several hundred recruiting agency representatives participated in the programme carrying banners, festoons and placards.      

Police have detained 54 people in connection with the attack on NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah’s car in Gazipur on Sunday. Police detained them in drives conducted in different parts of the city throughout Sunday night, said Md Rabiul Hasan, Deputy Commissioner (Crime-North) of Gazipur Metropolitan Police. The detainees are being interrogated and legal action is underway, he added. According to local sources, most of the detainees are leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies. A case is expected to be filed with the city's Basan Police Station with NCP’s Gazipur district representative Al Amin as the complainant. Police arrested two people— Md Nizam Uddin, a Jubo League leader of Ward 13 in Gazipur city and Masum Ahmed Dipu, president of Sheikh Russel Shishu Kishore Parishad on Sunday night from Kashimpur area. Police have not yet disclosed detailed identities of the other detainees. Chief Coordinator (South) of the National Citizens' Party (NCP), Hasnat Abdullah’s car came under attack near Chandana intersection in Gazipur city on Sunday evening while he was returning to Dhaka from the Bangladesh Agricultural University campus in Gazipur. 2 held over attack on Hasnat in Gazipur According to his driver, unidentified assailants on motorcycles attacked the car from behind breaking its windows. Following the attack, Abdullah took shelter at the Islamic University of Technology (IUT). Police rushed to the spot upon receiving the information and later escorted him safely to Dhaka.  

Canadian businesses can make profit by investing in the Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chattogram, which offers long-term land allocation for industrial use, said Commerce Adviser SK Bashir Uddin. He said this during a meeting with the Indo-Pacific trade delegation from Canada led by Canadian Indo-Pacific Trade Representative Paul Thoppil on Sunday at the commerce ministry in Dhaka. During the discussion, both sides explored ways to enhance bilateral trade, investment, and cooperation. Emphasising the potential for expanding trade and investment between Bangladesh and Canada, Bashir said a “win-win” business relationship would benefit both countries. The adviser urged Canada to increase investment in Bangladesh, noting that the country has a significant demand for renewable energy. Canadian trade representative Paul Thoppil described Bangladesh as one of Canada’s key trading partners and a major buyer of Canadian goods, particularly in the readymade garments sector. Govt working to prevent price hike of sacrificial animals due to extortion: Adviser He highlighted the need to activate the joint working group and prioritise the signing of an air service agreement to facilitate greater trade between the two countries. Thoppil further noted Canada’s keen interest in investing in several key sectors in Bangladesh, including information technology, agriculture, livestock and dairy products, renewable energy, airport modernisation, the development of cargo villages, and international-standard hotel construction to support the tourism industry. Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh, Senior Trade Commissioner Debra Boyce, and Commerce Secretary Md Mahbubur Rahman were also present at the meeting.