United News of Bangladesh

India and Nepal noted with satisfaction the growing engagement in recent times in traditionally strong areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade and commerce, development partnership, hydropower, physical connectivity, border management, energy, and people to people ties as well as newer avenues for collaboration including6G start-ups, digital connectivity, AI and sports. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to all round enhancement of the bilateral partnership. Foreign Secretary of India Vikram Misri visited Nepal on November 04-05 at the cordial invitation of Foreign Secretary of Nepal Amrit Bahadur Rai. During the visit, Foreign Secretary of India called on Prime Minister of Nepal Balendra Shah and conveyed greetings from Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. The Foreign Secretary of India highlighted the wide-ranging engagement and overall progress in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation, and discussed possible outcomes and initiatives in the context of the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal to India. The Foreign Secretary called on Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle; Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal; Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha and Minister for Infrastructure Development, Hon. Sunil Lamsal. The two Foreign Secretaries held delegation-level talks on November 4, during which they reviewed on-going cooperation across diverse sectors and discussed ways to further strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership between India and Nepal. The Foreign Secretary also interacted with a group of parliamentarians, including members of the India-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Group and Nepal’s Parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Tourism. During various engagements, the Nepali leadership expressed gratitude for India’s swift and substantial humanitarian and technical assistance in the aftermath of the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi floods. The visit of the Foreign Secretary of India continued the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries to further advance close bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation, said the Ministry of External Affairs.

Singapore’s Non-resident High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Derek Loh, has held a series of high-level meetings in Dhaka to discuss expanding flight connectivity, carbon credits collaboration, capacity building, and financial services cooperation. During his visit, High Commissioner Loh met Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat to discuss enhancing flight connectivity, including the possibility of increasing Singapore Airlines flights between Dhaka and Singapore, as well as potential cooperation at the third terminal of Dhaka airport. In a separate meeting with Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintoo, High Commissioner Loh welcomed the good progress Bangladesh has made in developing its carbon market. He highlighted that cooperation in carbon credits is mutually beneficial, as it will enable both countries to achieve their respective climate targets, attract investments, create jobs, facilitate technology collaboration, and deliver sustainable development benefits for local communities. He added that Singapore looks forward to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on carbon credits collaboration with Bangladesh soon. High Commissioner Loh also met Finance Secretary Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder to explore cooperation in capacity building and financial services. During his visit, he also met the editors of key Bangladeshi media organizations and members of the Diplomatic Corps in Dhaka. CDA Philip Ong Philip Ong and officials from Singapore’s Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Enterprise Singapore accompanied High Commissioner Loh during the meetings.  

Russian House in Dhaka on Thursday hosted a special press meet, flag-in ceremony and photo exhibition for celebrating the successful completion of “Ashes & Ice: The Dormant Giant Expedition 2026”, the Bangladesh–Russia Friendship Expedition to Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Russia and Europe. The event brought together  guests and representatives of the organising and supporting organisations. The press conference was led by Mr. Enam Ul Haque, Founder of the Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC). Ikramul Hasan Shakil, the Bangladeshi mountaineer who successfully reached the summit of Mount Elbrus on 26 September 2026, shared his expedition experiences through a presentation and a special video documenting the journey. He recounted the challenges and memorable moments of the expedition. Despite heavy snowfall, freezing winds and poor visibility, he and his fellow mountaineers successfully reached the summit. During his presentation, Shakil expressed his sincere gratitude to Russian House in Dhaka for its support and cooperation throughout the expedition.

BRAC and UNESCO have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance Bangladesh’s creative economy, focusing on film, cultural tourism and heritage. BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Susan Vize signed the agreement at BRAC Centre in Dhaka on Thursday. Saleh said the partnership would help develop a national strategy and roadmap for the creative economy, generate jobs and support people working informally in the sector. He highlighted BRAC’s initiatives, including Aarong’s work with artisans, its popular theatre programme and community-based tourism initiative Otithi. Vize said Bangladesh’s cultural heritage and creativity could improve livelihoods for craftspeople, dancers, chefs and others. The partnership will assess the existing creative ecosystem, identify gaps and priorities, and outline short-, medium- and long-term measures for growth. Its focus will include film and audio-visual industries, cultural and community-based tourism, film festivals and heritage. The organisations will also explore establishing a national Creative Cities Network and examine the possibility of Dhaka joining UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, which promotes creativity and cultural industries for sustainable urban development. The initiative aims to expand economic opportunities, strengthen creative industries and safeguard Bangladesh’s cultural heritage.

Students, teachers and parents from 30 schools across 20 districts and 27 upazilas have joined hands to address violence and bullying and identify practical measures to make schools safer and more supportive for learners. The school-level activities are being organised to mark the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, Including Cyberbullying, observed this year under the theme “Every learner safe and well: From promise to practice.” UNESCO Dhaka is supporting the initiative through its Health Promoting School (HPS) programme in collaboration with the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) and the National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM), said a press release issued on Thursday. The initiative focuses on preventing violence and bullying while promoting mental wellbeing, teacher support, digital safety and a school environment where every student feels safe and supported.

France and Germany have expressed their readiness to support Bangladesh in diversifying its economy and preparing for the next phase of its development. They made the commitment in a statement issued on Thursday, marking the 25th anniversary of the European Union's Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative. "This landmark partnership has played an important role in transforming Bangladesh's economy and strengthening its position in global trade," said the French Embassy in Dhaka. Over the years, duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union (EU) market has helped Bangladesh become one of the world's leading ready-made garment (RMG) exporters. It has supported millions of livelihoods and created economic opportunities for women across the country. "France and Germany, as two major European partners, have played an important role in this journey," the statement reads. Today, both countries remain among Bangladesh's key European export markets, it said. "Through bilateral trade, investment, development cooperation and private-sector engagement, we continue to contribute to the Bangladesh’s economic transformation," said the statement. Bangladesh is now preparing for its next chapter of development. With the postponement of the LDC graduation to November 24, 2029, Bangladesh will continue to benefit from the EBA scheme until 2032, including the three-year transition period granted by the EU. "This is an opportunity, but time will pass quickly. Preserving market competitiveness beyond EBA will require continued and accelerated reforms," said the French Embassy.

Referring to the existing extradition treaty with India, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Thursday said they want former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who now faces the death penalty, to be handed over to Bangladesh. “We want Hasina to be handed over. She will be handed over. She is a terrorist. She is a fled criminal. There is an active extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India,” he told reporters, noting that there is no need or requirement to give her a passport. Kobir made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after seeing off Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. “Is she coming to visit her in-laws’ residence in Rangpur that we need to give her a passport so she can make that visit? We have an active extradition treaty with India. You do not need a passport to arrest terrorists and criminals. This is a matter of handover, and a judicial process is in place. Should we treat her like an ordinary commercial traveller and tell her to come and visit her in-laws’ residence?” he said.

Bangladesh and China have reaffirmed their commitment to taking bilateral relations to new heights under the framework of a “China-Bangladesh Community with a Shared Future in the New Era”. The commitment was made during a breakfast meeting hosted by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir in honour of Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), at State Guest House Padma on Thursday. Liu paid a visit to Bangladesh from November 3 to 5.  

A total of 111 members of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) left Dhaka for the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday to replace the existing contingent deployed in the United Nations peacekeeping mission there. The personnel departed on a United Nations-chartered Ethiopian Airlines flight as part of the rotation of the 135-member BAF Utility Aviation Unit contingent serving under the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). The new contingent, Utility Aviation Unit-23, will be led by Air Commodore A T M Irfanur Rahmen. A special munajat was offered at the departure lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport before the contingent's departure, seeking its success and excellence in carrying out the mission. Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) Air Vice Marshal Rushad Din Asad and senior BAF officers were present at the airport to see off the personnel. Earlier, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan briefed the contingent members at Air Headquarters on November 1 and offered a special munajat for the success of their mission. Addressing the personnel, he advised them to perform their duties with honesty, professionalism and sincerity and bring honour to the Bangladesh Air Force and the country. The BAF said its personnel had earned a good reputation in DR Congo through their efficient, professional and sincere efforts in carrying out peacekeeping duties and helping mitigate conflicts.  

Singapore has expressed its interest in strengthening bilateral relations with Bangladesh and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual benefit, opening up new opportunities in trade, investment and other key sectors. Non-Resident High Commissioner of Singapore to Bangladesh Derek Loh expressed the interest during a visit to Dhaka, when he held meetings with key political leaders and senior government officials. During the visit, he called on Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Science and Technology, Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, and Road Transport, Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam. Derek Loh also met BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Executive Chairman of Invest Bangladesh Authority Ashik Chowdhury, Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, and representatives of leading think tanks. Discussions during the meetings focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, energy, digitalisation, capacity building, healthcare, trade and investment. Port development, including PSA's proposed Bay Terminal project, also featured in the discussions.