United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is "confident" that he can find "common ground" with President-elect Donald Trump despite their divergent worldviews, reports TIME Magazine. “Trump is a businessman; we are in business,” TIME quoted Prof Yunus as saying.  “We are not asking for free money to help us out of some crisis; we want a business partner,” he said. Reassuring global firms that Bangladesh remains open for business with a top priority, he said still the glacial pace of reform means doubts fester, according to the TIME. On October 31, Trump posted on X to condemn the “barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos.” Compounding matters, Prof Yunus has his own baggage with Trump, owing to his close friendship with Hillary Clinton, publicly lamenting her 2016 election defeat: “Trump’s win has hit us so hard that this morning I could hardly speak. I lost all strength.” As protesters encircled her official residence in Dhaka, former PM Sheikh Hasina fled in a military helicopter to India, where she and her cabal of key advisers continued to rail against her ouster. Prof Yunus revealed that he would be seeking Hasina’s extradition after prosecutors issued a warrant for her part in the violence, though few believe Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would comply.  “Not only is she being hosted by India, the worst part is that she’s talking, which causes a lot of problems for us. It makes people very unhappy to hear that voice. So, this is something that we have to resolve,” Yunus said. Prof Yunus tells TIME that the young minds are full of ideas and ambitions and aspirations. "They depicted their future in those murals, and it’s something much greater than Bangladesh has ever seen.”  

A total of 82 Bangladeshi expatriates returned home from war-ravaged Lebanon in a flight of Emirates Airlines on Thursday night. The flight, ‘EK-584’, carrying the expatriates landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) around 11pm, said a media release sent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The repatriation was made with the help of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon’s Beirut and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Among the returnees, 76 expatriates were repatriated at government expenses while six others were funded by the IOM. The 76 returnees had registered with the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut while the remaining six were registered with the IOM. Read: Govt efforts on to serve expatriate Bangladeshis: Chief Adviser opens waiting lounge at Dhaka airport As of Thursday, a total of 697 Bangladeshis returned from Lebanon through 11 flights. The returnees were welcomed at the HSIA upon their arrival.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said the process of finalizing the "Witness Protection Protocol" proposed by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is under process. Director General of the Public Diplomacy wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Toufique Hasan, said opinions of various ministries and relevant departments have been received in this regard. Briefing the reporters at the MoFA, he said ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim A Khan will visit Bangladesh on November 25-28. During this visit, he will meet Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and visit the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar. During the recent UN General Assembly in New York, the ICC Chief Prosecutor met Prof Yunus and shared their "common vision" to strengthen Bangladesh-ICC cooperation and ensure accountability for crimes committed against the Rohingya. Their discussions included the Rohingya genocide and ways and means to file a crime against humanity case against the perpetrators of the July-August massacre, according to chief adviser's Office. Prof Yunus also asked him about the procedure to file a case of crimes against humanity at the ICC against the perpetrators of the massacre during the July-August uprising, which left at least 700 people dead and more than 20,000 injured. Karim Khan said Bangladesh can definitely file a complaint at the Hague-based court, but he said there are rules to be followed for filing a crimes against humanity case at the ICC. Khan appreciated the chief adviser’s three points regarding the Rohingya crisis. During the meeting, Karim Khan apprised Prof Yunus of the latest developments on the investigations into the Rohingya deportation launched by the ICC in 2019. Bangladesh-Belgium Political Dialogue The second "political dialogue" at the Additional Foreign Secretary level between Bangladesh and Belgium will be held in Dhaka on November 24. The dialogue is expected to discuss various aspects of bilateral and multilateral relations between the two countries, said MoFA Spokesperson Hasan. In addition, views will be exchanged on EU-Bangladesh relations and various global and regional issues. Additional Foreign Secretary Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam will lead the Bangladesh delegation and Director General for Bilateral Affairs. Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jeroen Cooreman will lead the Belgium delegation.

Bangladesh and India are preparing for a high-level Foreign Secretary meeting in Dhaka next month, with discussions likely to cover a range of bilateral issues, including the potential extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India. At the Foreign Ministry's weekly briefing on Thursday, Director General of the Public Diplomacy Wing Toufique Hasan confirmed that an inter-ministerial meeting has already taken place to coordinate preparations for the upcoming talks. The Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) is scheduled to be held early December in Dhaka. “There is scope for discussion on the matter (extradition of Sheikh Hasina),” Hasan said at a weekly media briefing. Sheikh Hasina, who fled Dhaka on August 5 and has been residing in India since then, is facing trial in Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal for alleged involvement in mass killings during the July-August uprising. While the government intends to bring her back, Hasan emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet received any formal directive to initiate the extradition process. “We will engage with Delhi and begin the formal process in accordance with the existing extradition treaty once we receive the necessary instructions,” he clarified in response to queries. The FOC will be led by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Regarding the review of existing agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries, Hasan noted that these fall under the jurisdiction of various ministries in Bangladesh. “Consultations with all relevant stakeholders are crucial, and implementing any measure will take time,” he said, adding that although there has been limited progress over the past 100 days, there is hope for “significant progress” in the coming months. On the topic of Indian visas, Hasan confirmed that the Indian Visa Center is operational but is currently prioritizing medical and student visa applications. He also addressed the issue of negative media campaigns in certain Indian outlets against Bangladesh. No decision yet on repatriation of Sheikh Hasina: MoFA Concerning direct air travel between Dhaka and Karachi, Hasan informed that Pakistan had submitted a request to resume connectivity. “The matter is under review and has been forwarded to the Ministry of Civil Aviation,” the Foreign Ministry official added, noting that updates will be provided in due course.

Bangladesh and Sweden on Thursday discussed moving the RMG product line of the former vertically, as has been evident from European market demand. Bangladesh also suggested to explore possibilities of bringing in Swedish brand IKEA’s manufacturing to the country, especially in wood-based products. The Swedish side apprised that while IKEA is already sourcing fabric based products, they would take it up with stakeholders to chart out further opportunities in manufacturing and warehousing in Bangladesh. Nicolas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, paid an introductory courtesy call on Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and discussed the issues. The Swedish Ambassador expressed his deep condolences, at the very outset, towards the martyrs of the July-August student-led mass uprising. He underscored Sweden’s strong support to the Interim Government and their readiness to support the injured. The Adviser welcomed the proposal and informed about the Interim Government’s initiatives in ensuring treatments for the injured. He shared that reform is the cornerstone of the Interim Government’s mandate, based on the will of the masses. Read: Sweden, UN Women sign $7.1m deal to advance gender equality in Bangladesh Hossain highlighted that people and media are free to express their opinions whatsoever, unlike during the fallen regime’s tenure. Overall, the change from the very political culture of arrest and brutal exclusion of the opposition to a democratic one is what the Interim Government is working towards, said the foreign adviser. The ambassador also reiterated continued Swedish support for the Rohingyas and opined to explore other avenues to meet the growing needs therein. The foreign adviser took note of it and called for continued support in ending this protracted crisis.

Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller has said antimicrobial resistance is one of the top global public health threats, and a major challenge in Bangladesh. Denmark is honoured to be in a partnership with Bangladesh to work towards high standard food production for the population, said the envoy. November 18-24 is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness week, and one of the challenges that creates antimicrobial resistance is the misuse of antibiotics in food production. The number of AMR deaths in Bangladesh is higher than deaths from chronic respiratory, diabetes and kidney diseases. Through signing of a new project, Denmark and Bangladesh have further strengthened cooperation on food and agriculture to support safe and sustainable food production in Bangladesh. Rohingya repatriation: UNGA resolution decides to hold high-level conference in 2025 to propose a time-bound plan This new project will address the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance and misuse of antibiotics in food production. Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the Danish Embassy on behalf of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, signed this three-year Strategic Sector Cooperation Project on November 20. S. M. Ferdous Alam, Director General of BSTI, said this initiative will strengthen the relationship between Bangladesh and Denmark. "Such collaboration will be fruitful as Denmark is pioneering in best practices in this area of work." The involvement of DVFA will also enhance knowledge and capabilities, and improve the efficiency of dairy production in Bangladesh. Moreover, it will ensure better nutrition from a novel food source and ultimately contribute to the economy. Under this project, all relevant regulators will have the opportunity to work together for the national interest, advancing a One Health approach. This week an expert delegation from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration will also hold discussions with the partners of this project including Bangladesh Government with Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Directorate General Drug Administration (DGDA) on how to ensure and promote a more prudent use of antibiotics to reduce and avoid AMR in Bangladesh. These exchanges will be held in line with the theme for the World AMR Awareness Week 2024 which is “Educate. Advocate. Act now.”

Bangladesh has expressed disappointment over no real progress made in the last seven years to address the root causes of the Rohingya crisis. Bangladesh also urged the international community to take necessary actions in creating conditions necessary for the repatriation of the Rohingyas. “For us and for the sake of regional as well as international security, creating conditions for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is of utmost importance,” said Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations. He delivered the statement after the adoption of the resolution on the Rohingya crisis at the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on November 20. The resolution, entitled “The situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar”, jointly tabled by the OIC and the EU has been adopted in the third Committee of the UNGA by consensus which was cosponsored by 106 countries, marking a significant level of international support. Through the resolution, Member-States decide to hold an all-stakeholder high-level conference, at the earliest possible time in 2025, on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, to review the overall crisis in order to propose a comprehensive, innovative, concrete and time-bound plan for a sustainable resolution of the crisis, including voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar. The organization of the high-level conference was a call from Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Professor Muhammad Yunus, during the high-level week of the 79th UNGA in September, said the Bangladesh Mission in the UN on Thursday. This year, the resolution, among other issues, called to ensure the right to return of all refugees, including Rohingya Muslims taking shelter in other countries, and take concrete actions to create conditions necessary for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return and reintegration. It recognized and highlighted the serious human rights violations and abuses including killings, destructions and burning of houses, hindrance in accessing humanitarian assistance, forced recruitment of the civilians, particularly Rohingya Muslims and other minorities including children. It also reaffirmed commitment to support all accountability processes to bring the perpetrators to justice. The resolution further emphasizes the critical role of ASEAN as a regional organization and highlighted its initiatives in fulfilment of the five-point consensus in its entirety. In his statement, Ambassador Muhith described how the protracted presence of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh, has created a complex and worrisome situation. Referring to the Security Council resolution and the resolution adopted in the Third Committee of the General Assembly, he urged the international community to take necessary actions in creating conditions necessary for the return of Rohingya Muslims. He also emphasized on adequate funding for the humanitarian response plan to support the Rohingya Muslims, pending their return. The adoption of the resolution by consensus is a significant step forward, demonstrating the strong commitment of international community towards a durable resolution of the crisis.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has said that no decision has been made yet regarding the repatriation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Toufique Hasan, Director General of the Public Diplomacy Division and the MoFA spokesperson, said that the issue is political in nature and any decision will come from the highest authorities within the government. Hasan said that the ministry had not received any instructions regarding the matter and that it would likely be discussed in the upcoming Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultation (FOC). He explained that while media reports had circulated on the issue, the MoFA was not aware about any official discussions and would act in accordance with government decisions. Hasan also shared updates on several diplomatic efforts being pursued by Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultation, reiterating that the FOC will be the first step in that direction. Responding to questions from journalists about international pressures on domestic political matters, Hasan denied any external influence on Bangladesh's internal affairs, particularly regarding the Awami League. He said that no foreign government had raised concerns or made requests about banning the political party. Bhutanese envoy meets Fakhrul, discusses Saarc revival The spokesperson also talked about the ongoing situation involving Bangladeshi nationals detained in the UAE following protests in July. He said the ministry continues to monitor these developments closely and will provide further updates as the situation progresses.

The Canadian High Commission in Dhaka has said the "multifaceted" Bangladesh-Canada relationship will continue to flourish, based on shared values of democracy, good governance, human rights and pluralism. Canada recognized Bangladesh in 1972, shortly after its birth as a nation, and is "proud" of the last 52 years of its partnership, as the country has made progress to improve the lives of its citizens. Newly appointed High Commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh Ajit Singh presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at a ceremony at the Bangabhaban on November 20. Following the ceremony, the President and the High Commissioner had the opportunity to discuss the excellent relations between the two countries. The High Commissioner noted that it is an honour and privilege for him to represent Canada in Bangladesh. 

The United States wants to see the human rights of the Bangladeshi people are upheld. "Our position with respect to human rights in Bangladesh is the same under this government as it was under the previous government," said Spokesperson at the US Department of State Matthew Miller in a regular briefing in Washington on November 20. "We want to see the human rights of the Bangladeshi people upheld," he added.