United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday said that Bangladesh is “deeply concerned” with the current challenges faced by the country in terms of security, human-trafficking, environment and various socio-economic aspects for hosting the Rohingya people for over seven years now. During a meeting with the IFRC delegation chief, he reiterated that the Rohingya people will have to return to Myanmar; and sought support from the international community, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Adviser received the letter of credence of Alberto Bocanegra Vidal, Head of Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to Bangladesh, at the Ministry. He welcomed the IFRC Head of Delegation to Bangladesh and assured of all-out support of the government in discharge of his responsibilities. Alberto briefed the Adviser about IFRC activities in Bangladesh, particularly about their early warning system, role during the recent floods in Bangladesh and for the temporarily sheltered Rohingya people in Bangladesh as well as the host community. The Adviser appreciated the activities of IFRC, ICRC and BDRCS in Bangladesh, their contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic and timely response to the floods. He said that the government is extending support to the flood affected people and would welcome voluntary assistance from the partners and friends of Bangladesh.

Describing border killings unacceptable, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday said such killing is a barrier to creating good relations between Bangladesh and India. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossain said border killings were reported when the two neighboring countries were reportedly going through a golden chapter. “There has been no change in this trend.” The Adviser said the issue of maintaining friendly relations is not limited to two governments but it is a matter of peoples from both sides. “There is a repercussion across the country when an individual is killed along the border. That is a negative repercussion which we do not want,” he said. Within a span of  eight days, Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel gunned down another Bangladeshi teen and injured two others including the teen’s father along Baliadangi border in Thakurgaon  early Monday, said police. The deceased was identified as Joyanta Kumar Singha, 15, while the injured were Joyanta’s father Mahadev Kumar Singha, and Bangdu Mohammad, of Fakir Bhita village in the upazila. Baliadangi Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Firoz Kabir said one person died and two others sustained bullet injuries in the BSF firing while they were trying to cross the border. The injured are undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, he said, adding that the BSF troops took away the body.   Lt Col Tanjir Ahmed, commandant of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)-50 Battalion in Thakurgaon, said they are in touch with the BSF to bring back the body. On September 1, 13-year-old Shwarna Das, of Juri upazila of Moulvibazar district, was shot dead by the BSF troops. Around 45 hours after the incident, the BSF returned the body to Bangladesh after a flag meeting with the BGB. In the protest note sent to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Thursday, Bangladesh strongly protested and condemned such ruthless acts and expressed deep concern over the incidents. Bangladesh reminded that such incidents of border killing are undesirable and unwarranted and such actions are in violation of the provisions of the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities, 1975. The government called upon the government of India to stop repetition of such heinous acts and conduct enquiries into all border killings, identify the responsible persons and bring them to justice. Bangladesh strongly protested and condemned such ruthless acts and expressed deep concern over the incident.

Bangladesh and Denmark have further strengthened cooperation on food and agriculture to support a safe and sustainable food production in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and the Danish Embassy on behalf of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration signed a Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) project on food safety and green transition of the dairy value chain on Monday.  This new project between Denmark and Bangladesh will work to address several challenges in relation to food safety in Bangladesh, including antimicrobial resistance and misuse of antibiotics in food production. Zakaria, Chairman of BFSA underlined the importance of ensuring safe food for all to ensure health and development. He said, “This collaboration will help to further develop and ensure safe food in Bangladesh. By increasing the food safety measures, Bangladesh will also have more access to the international food market.” Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Moller said Denmark and Bangladesh have been trusted partners for more than five decades now. “We are very happy to have entered this partnership to strengthen our cooperation on food safety, mainly antimicrobial resistance and sustainable food production to support health and the development towards a prosperous Bangladesh.” The signing has solidified the commitment of both nations to continue close cooperation in the food and agricultural sector and collaborate on vital matters related to food safety management and sustainable food production. This SSC-project is a government-to-government project between Denmark and Bangladesh. The Danish partner to this project is the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA), while the Bangladeshi partners are BFSA, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Directorate General Drug Administration (DGDA), and Department of Livestock Services (DLS). The project is a three-year government to gov-ernment project, bringing Danish and Bangladeshi experts together. The three core objectives of this project are: i) Improving food safety in the dairy value chain through strengthening the regulatory framework and capacity building, ii) preventing antimi-crobial resistance in the livestock sector through strengthening the regulatory framework and capacity building, and iii) supporting efficient and sustainable dairy production through strengthening the capacity of the competent authority working with extension service for dairy farmers.

Speakers at a webinar have highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach in addressing the severe flooding crisis in Bangladesh. It was emphasized that through coordinated efforts between Oxfam and the UK’s Bangladeshi diaspora, significant and tangible impacts can be made in supporting the affected communities. Historically, they said, the diaspora has been a reliable force in humanitarian causes, but the current crisis demands more organized efforts to fully leverage their financial contributions, skills, and resources. The recent floods in Bangladesh have left nearly 6 million people facing devastation and uncertainty, according to Oxfam Bangladesh. In collaboration with crucial Bangladeshi diaspora members in the UK, Oxfam hosted the webinar recently that underscored the diaspora's immense potential to support affected communities. Participants at the webinar called for collective action, stressing the need for financial contributions and sharing skills and resources. The recent webinar brought together prominent members of the diaspora, community leaders, businesspeople, and other representatives to focus on urgent responses to the floods. The discussion highlighted the critical need for immediate aid and long-term recovery efforts, with a clear message to the diaspora to contribute their financial resources, skills, and expertise. Oxfam has been on the ground since the start of the floods, delivering life-saving aid, including clean water, sanitation facilities, food supplies, and medical care. But the needs remain enormous. The webinar clarified that the diaspora's involvement is vital in scaling these efforts. Rafique Haider, President of the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI); Bashir Ahmed, former President BBCCI; Sheikh Aliur Rahman OBE, Group Chairman, London Tea Exchange; Baroness Manzila Pola Uddin, Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom; Apsana Begum, MP for Poplar and Limehouse; former mayor Cllr Jyotsna & Cllr Sams Islam; Dr Sheikh Ramzy, chair oxford Islamic center; Julian Francis, development practitioner; Rohima Miah, Director of international trade affairs, UKBCCI; Mahmud Hasan MBE, CEO Apasen and Ashish Damle, Oxfam's Country Director in Bangladesh sparked the discussions. During the webinar, Aziz ur Rahman, Patron of Oxfam GB, the webinar facilitator, urged participants to act swiftly and leverage the diaspora's potential in financial contributions and sharing skills and resources to support disaster relief. He highlighted the consistent generosity of the UK's Bangladeshi community, which has historically rallied for humanitarian causes, but stressed the need for more structured and sustained engagement. Halima Begum, CEO of Oxfam GB, said, "As a British Bangladeshi myself, I know our community's generosity. Oxfam's work is vital, and working with the diaspora we will help support the long-term effort that is so desperately required to sustainably future-proof Bangladesh from climate change, and rebuild the areas and lives so terribly affected by this latest wave of floods.” With 2.4 million Bangladeshi diaspora members worldwide, including 700,000-800,000 in the UK, their collective action holds great potential for supporting Bangladesh. Along with these insights, the webinar began with a briefing on the scale of the disaster. Due to floods, homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods have been destroyed, leaving millions without access to necessities like food, clean water, and shelter. The scale of the recovery needed is immense, with rebuilding homes, restoring infrastructure, and providing access to safe sanitation being central challenges. Aziz ur Rahman, Oxfam GB's Patron and Md Sariful Islam, Head of Influencing, Communications, Advocacy, and Media of Oxfam in Bangladesh, moderated the session. The webinar also featured discussions from community leaders, including Dr Wali Taser Uddin MBE, President of European Bangladesh Federation; Dr. Hasnan M. Husain, MBE; Imam Ahmed, President of the Midlands Region UKBCCI; Mohammed Emdadul Haque Chowdhry, Editor of Weekly Potrika & Former President of London Press Club, Chair of the Federation of Asian Catering Associations; and Hean Chowdhry, former Mayor and Counselor.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has said Bangladesh now has an opportunity to chart a new future, with the interim government making publicly clear its commitment to a peaceful and inclusive process grounded in human rights and the rule of law. “My office is supporting the authorities, including by conducting an independent fact-finding mission into recent alleged human rights violations, and on accountability, processes of reconciliation and healing, and other essential, long-delayed reforms,” he said in a statement on Monday. Recently in Bangladesh, the student movement carried human rights as its torch, Turk added. While giving a global update to the UN Human Rights Council, he said his office will continue to work tirelessly in support of victims everywhere. “I urge you all to make use of this institution to the fullest, because a strong UN Human Rights Office and a healthy, well-resourced human rights ecosystem are of global interest and benefit. And represent an extraordinary return on investment at a tiny fraction of the resources so readily devoted elsewhere,” said the UN rights chief. Collectively, he said, they should make the choice of rejecting the ‘new normal’ and the dystopian future it would present. “Let us embrace and trust the full power of human rights as the path to the world we want — more peaceful, just, fair, and sustainable,” Turk said. Earlier, Turk received an official invitation from Bangladesh interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to conduct an impartial and independent fact-finding mission into human rights violations committed from July 1 to August 15. The office will deploy a fact-finding team to Bangladesh in the coming weeks, with a view to reporting on violations and abuses perpetrated during the protests, analysing root causes and, and making recommendations to advance justice and accountability and for longer-term reforms, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani said. The team received commitments from the Interim Government and security forces for full cooperation in this work. An advance team visited Bangladesh from August 22-29 and met with student leaders of the recent protests, many of whom have been detained or injured in recent weeks. The team also had meetings with a wide range of advisors in the Interim Government, the Chief Justice, senior officers of the police and armed forces, lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders, representatives of political parties, and minority and indigenous communities. In its meetings, the team discussed the modalities for an investigation into human rights violations and abuses in the context of the recent violence and unrest, as requested by the Interim Government. It also discussed wider areas – including civic space, the need for truth, justice, healing, reparation and reconciliation, and other human rights approaches to the reform process – in which their office could provide sustained support, Shamdasani said.

Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh Christian Brix Moller has expressed willingness to extend Danish support for good governance, democracy, human rights, institutional capacity building, as well as for rehabilitation of the victims of torture. The Danish Ambassador acknowledged the existing cooperation between the two countries as comprehensive. He congratulated Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on his new assignment and handed over the original congratulatory message from the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Lokke Rasmussen while paying a courtesy call on him on Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Adviser underlined the priorities of the Interim Government, including restoring law and order and reforms in statecraft. He highlighted that Bangladesh highly values and attaches great importance to its longstanding relations with Denmark. The Adviser particularly referred to the aspirations of the youth that necessitates undertaking essential reforms in many sectors including political and electoral system, and economy. The Ambassador shared Denmark’s priorities of engagements with Bangladesh, particularly in green transition and updated the Adviser on the two priority projects of Denmark - construction and operation of Laldia Container Terminal in Chattogram by APM Terminals and production of 500 MW offshore wind energy. The Adviser welcomed increasing interests of Danish companies for business with and investments in Bangladesh. Both sides also expressed the desire to engage more in multilateral fora leveraging the Danish non-permanent membership of the UNSC for 2025-2026.

Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi has said beyond economic diplomacy with the private sector and in economic forums, he will also be speaking to his fellow advisers to see if he can assist with any of their priorities by utilising his international network. “It’s wonderful to be part of the team and have the opportunity to play mid-fielder, striker or defender when it comes to international affairs, depending on what the team needs at any point in time,” he said upon his arrival in Dhaka from abroad. Siddiqi, also an Adviser, said he is very excited to be here and receive his brief from the Chief Adviser in person this morning. “In order to foster inward investments, nurture a program of relationships with foreign investors at the highest level, promote what we offer, and help shape our economic reform agenda from that perspective, I need to do a lot of listening,” said the special envoy. He said he is grateful for the warm welcome from everyone from all walks of life - including on social media - and their enthusiasm to work together in the spirit of forward-looking positivity, inclusivity and delivery. “I look forward to engaging with a lot of people in the next few weeks to listen to their views and brainstorm some ideas,” chief adviser’s press wing quoted him as saying. On September 4, the interim government appointed Siddiqui as chief adviser’s special envoy on international affairs. Siddiqi is an Adjunct Professor at National University of Singapore and a visiting Professor-in-Practice at the London School of Economics. He was previously Global Head of Emerging Markets for FX, Rates & Credit at UBS Investment bank and a Managing Director at Barclays bank. He was recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012 where he’s served on councils and steering groups on capital markets, infrastructure investment, inclusive growth and global risks.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday said the main focus of the interim government is the law and order situation, stressing that the security situation has improved in the country. Prof Yunus also said the interim government has rolled out important reforms in the first month after he took over as the chief adviser. He made the remarks when the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See (Ambassador of Vatican) to Bangladesh, Kevin S. Randell paid a courtesy call on him at the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka. Prof Yunus sought support from the Holy See for reforms and the Rohingya people sheltered in Bangladesh, said the press wing of the chief adviser.

Amid visa seekers' peaceful demonstration demanding quick delivery of passports with visa, the Italian Embassy in Dhaka on Monday said applicants were warned against submitting forged or false documents. The Italian Embassy said they are committed to work with the Bangladesh authorities and in partnership with the European Union (EU) for actively preventing irregular flows and promoting legal pathways. A bilateral agreement has been proposed to further improve collaboration in migration and mobility issues, which they hope will soon be finalised. The Embassy assured of its commitment to increase the output of processed applications and presented some initiatives undertaken to that end with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, including the creation of a dedicated taskforce. Applicants were reassured that their "nulla osta" will not expire once they have lodged the application or requested an appointment to do so. The nulla osta is the document issued by Italian immigration authorities which authorizes a non-EU national to apply for a work visa at the Italian embassy/consulate in their country of residence A few hundreds of working visa applicants gathered on Monday morning in Shahabuddin Park in Gulshan 2 asking for a rapid reply to their applications. The demonstration was peaceful, said the Embassy, adding that a few representatives of the applicants were received in the Embassy by the Deputy Head of Mission to whom they presented some requests. During the meeting the Embassy provided legal, technical and logistic explanations for the existing delays in the processing of working visas to Italy. Applicants were warned not to pay or trust any mediator or intermediary who are the main cause for the current delays, said the Embassy. The visa seekers also wanted to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to place their demands for addressing the issue. “Your voice will play a strong role in resolving our problems. We want to get our passports and visas back soon,” said a message displayed by one of the visa seekers who joined the programme. Corruption and the production of false or forged documents or statements are serious crimes under both the Italian and Bangladeshi laws, which the Italian Embassy is committed to contrast together with the concerned Bangladeshi authorities, said the Embassy. Over these regrettable practices, thorough investigations are in due course also in Italy. During the meeting, the Embassy also clarified the role of VFS Global: it is the only Embassy's official authorized agency, contracted by the Italian Government with the only purpose to collect visa and legalization applications for Italy and to return passports to the respective applicants. The Embassy receives tens of thousands of applications per year and would not be able to manage them without the help of such an organization, as it happens for several other foreign missions in Dhaka and in other parts of the world. VFS Global acts on behalf and under strict instructions of the Italian Embassy, without taking part in any decision concerning the approval or rejection of a visa or its timing, nor on the appointment schedule to file the visa applications. The appointments are given by the Embassy after appropriate checks and controls on the data filed by the applicants, with no involvement of VFS Global or its staff. During the meeting, the Embassy recalled that, by Italian regulations, applicants can withdraw their passports at any moment provided that they renounce the application. For visa applications filed after May 2024, thanks to a special waiver released by the Headquarters, applicants do not need to leave their passports anymore along with their visa applications. The passport can be presented at a later stage if needed. The Embassy wished to highlight that the issuance of visas falls under the exclusive competence of the issuing State. “Therefore, all decisions concerning the release or denials of Italian working visas to Bangladeshi citizens, as well as their timing, procedure, controls and deadlines, are exclusively regulated by Italian Law,” said the Embassy. Grievances and appeals against the Embassy's decisions can be presented to the proper authorities in Italy, pursuant to the applicable Italian laws and regulations. The Embassy recalled that it processed almost 40,000 visa applications in 2023, the highest number ever. A similar number is expected in 2024. Many legalizations and consular services are also provided by the Embassy to Bangladeshi citizens living in Italy. This visa and consular activities contribute importantly to the success of the Bangladeshi community residing in Italy, which sends the remarkable amount of 1.2 billion Euros per year to Bangladesh. At the same time, several thousands of irregular Bangladeshi migrants attempt to reach Italy every month: Bangladeshis are the first nationality trying to cross the Mediterranean illegally towards the Italian shores, putting their own lives at serious risk, said the Embassy. Italy and the EU are committed to stopping exploitation and illegal trafficking of human beings. “We invite all Bangladeshi citizens not to rely on human traffickers to reach Italy. The crime of illegal immigration is a serious crime and involves the repatriation of the migrant and a ban on re-entry throughout the territory of the European Union from 3 to 5 years,” said the Embassy. “Illegal migrants are not allowed to work in Italy in any case. The new procedures in Italy also provide for the possibility of detaining at the border those who arrive illegally and proceeding with immediate repatriation,” it said.

The Rohingya community in Malaysia has sent a clear message to ASEAN to include a regional refugee protection policy and mechanism as part of the ASEAN Vision 2045 at the Regional Consultation to Strengthen the Advocacy for Rohingya: Strategies and Regional Collaboration that was organized in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently. This Consultation was jointly organized by Beyond Borders Malaysia, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APPRN) and ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and attended by more than 50 participants from civil society organisations working on refugee rights and Rohingya community in Malaysia. “We also want Malaysia as the Chair of ASEAN in 2025 to engage directly with the Rohingya youth and victims, vulnerable, and marginalized groups in developing Chair’s policies and priorities”, said Kusheda Begom Hasan Sharif, Rohingya community leader in Malaysia. Hafsar Tameesuddin, Co-Secretary-General of APPRN said, “It is important for the ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar to coordinate closely with the UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) to ensure coherence in measures, approaches and analysis of the situation”. Contributing to the changing of the narrative of refugees; bringing the concerns of the Rohingya refugees; and hosting a regular public hearing on Rohingya are some of the recommendations from the Consultation that were addressed to the parliamentarians from Southeast Asia. Receiving the recommendations from the Rohingya community, Mercy Chriesty Barends, the APHR Chairperson and member of the Indonesian House of Representatives said, “I am very proud and humbled to receive the recommendations from the Rohingya community. APHR has been putting Myanmar at the heart of its advocacy for more than 20 years and remains in solidarity with Rohingya refugees. I support the suggestion from the Rohingya community to include refugees in the ASEAN vocabulary and its deliberations”.  “We are very concerned that years after the expulsion of the majority of the Rohingya population from Myanmar, Rohingya are still not being adequately informed or engaged on issues of vital importance to their lives and futures. Their voices have been virtually absent from all platforms where decisions about them were made, including on the repatriation plan from Bangladesh or relocation within the country”, said Indria Fernida, a Regional Program Manager of AJAR. “This Consultation, therefore, becomes crucial to honor the aspirations and concerns of the Rohingya, at least those who are in Malaysia right now. We want Rohingya to know that their voices and concerns matter”, explained Mahi Ramakrishnan, President of Beyond Borders Malaysia.