United News of Bangladesh

Sweden and UN Women on Monday signed a partnership agreement at the UN Women office in Dhaka to support the implementation of UN Women’s Strategic Note for Bangladesh until 2026. "Sweden firmly believes that gender equality is essential for building a sustainable, democratic and inclusive society,” said Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks. "We are excited to partner with UN Women to advance gender equality and empower women and girls in Bangladesh. By working together, we can ensure that women and girls have the opportunity to lead, thrive, and contribute to a more inclusive and just society," the Ambassador added. The USD 7.1 million grant will prioritise gender responsive programming in three critical areas – climate change and disaster risk reduction, gender responsive governance and humanitarian action, including the Rohingya response. It will also support engagement with a range of partners - government, civil society organisations, women’s rights organizations (WROs), academic institutions, media amongst others, to advance Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development with a commitment to the ‘Leave No One Behind’ principle. Besides, the partnership will bolster advocacy efforts on gender equality at the inter-governmental level, such as the upcoming the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), the 25th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security and the Commission on the Status of Women. UN Women’s Strategic Note (2022-26) is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-26, as well as national development priorities as established in the country’s 8th Five Year Plan. Appreciating Sweden for its continued support and strategic partnership, UN Women Representative Gitanjali Singh said it is a pivotal moment for women’s rights as they mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. "This collaboration and shared accountability to gender equality with Sweden enables UN Women to continue its life-saving work in disaster risk reduction and in the Rohingya Response. It also enables UN Women to expand its efforts so that women and girls have a voice and resources to influence action to make gender equality a lived reality," she said. The partnership will support UN Women to ensure that its work remains responsive to emerging opportunities, in the evolving landscape of Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has dismissed a report about a potential deal with France for Rafale fighter jets, calling the claims “unfounded”. This response comes after a report by the Indian publication The Sunday Guardian claimed “France aims to finalise Rafale deal with Bangladesh” thanks to renewed negotiations under the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus. Study in France: Costs, Scholarships, and Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students “Bangladesh’s Interim Government isn’t aware of any such deal in the offing,” said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing in a Facebook post. “Bangladesh has not received any official request from France yet to revive the negotiations.” The potential Rafale deal was initially discussed in 2019 under the administration of the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The negotiations stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, there has been no official effort to revisit the agreement, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing said.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday urged Saudi Arabia to invest more in Bangladesh and enhance energy and economic cooperation to boost ties between the two friendly nations. The Chief Advisers made the call when Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. Ambassador Al Duhailan said his country was eager to invest more in Bangladesh and sought support from the office of the Chief Adviser to  facilitate proposed Saudi investment in the port and logistics sectors especially in Matarbari Deep Sea Port, and  power and renewable energy sectors by Acwa Power. “This is the time that Saudi Arabia can give the best support to us,” the Chief Adviser told the Saudi envoy, terming the relationship between the two countries “unique” and “ separate” than other countries. Professor Yunus asked Saudi Arabia to convey his request to Saudi Government for depositing funds in Bangladesh’s central bank to boost liquidity support as part of economic cooperation, saying it will be "a wonderful gesture to the Interim Government". He also called for concessional supply of energy and petroleum products, enhanced trade and increased Saudi investment in the training of the Bangladeshi young people so that Dhaka can send more skilled and trained  workers to the oil-rich country. Ambassador Al Duhailan acknowledged the contribution of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Saudi Arabia, saying that gaining more skills would help them earn a better salary and send more remittances back home. Currently, nearly 3 million Bangladeshis are employed in the kingdom, sending billions of US dollars annually. Ambassador Al Duhailan said that Saudi Arabia issues on average 5,000 visas to Bangladeshi migrants and Muslim pilgrims daily. In 2023, about half a million Bangladeshis visited Saudi Arabia to perform umrah hajj, a 37 percent increase from the previous year. He handed over two letters from the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulating the Chief Adviser on the occasion of Saudi national day, according to the CA's press wing. “My government wants to see stability in Bangladesh, and Inshallah is ready to support the Bangladesh government,” said the Saudi Arabian ambassador. He presented the Chief Adviser a copy of the Holy Quran and a replica of the falcon, the national bird of Saudi Arabia.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will visit Bangladesh from October 29 to 30 to discuss human rights issues. He will hold a number of meetings with senior officials and civil society representatives among others. During his visit, the High Commissioner is scheduled to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, said the UN office in Dhaka on Monday. The UN rights chief will meet a number of advisers for different ministries, the Chief Justice, the Army Chief and the heads of several reform commissions. Türk will also make an address at the University of Dhaka, where he will meet students involved in the recent movement. Bangladesh to see several visits from UN this year; Volker Turk likely to come this month He will hold meetings with UN agencies and members of diplomatic missions in Bangladesh. The High Commissioner will hold a news conference in Dhaka at the end of his mission on Wednesday. Earlier, the UN rights chief received an official invitation from the Chief Adviser to conduct an impartial and independent fact-finding mission into human rights violations committed from July 1 to August 15. The office deployed a fact-finding team to Bangladesh, with a view to reporting on violations and abuses perpetrated during the protests, analysing root causes and making recommendations to advance justice and accountability and for longer-term reforms. Volker Türk made a phone call to Bangladesh interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in August. During his recent visit to New York, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus sought support from foreign friends for Bangladesh's new journey towards a happy and prosperous future, stressing that they do not want to miss the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh. Bangladesh now has an opportunity to chart a new future: Volker Turk On September 17, 1974, Bangladesh became a full member of the United Nations. As part of an ongoing engagement with the interim government, an advance team of the UN rights body visited Bangladesh from August 22-29 and met student leaders of the recent protests, as well as a wide range of advisers 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.  

Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan on Sunday expressed eagerness to recruit more workers, especially skilled and trained workforce, to support its ambitious initiatives like ‘Green Saudi Initiative’ and mega projects under the Kingdom Vision 2030. The Ambassador recalled the invaluable contributions of Bangladeshi expatriate workers to the Saudi economy and society, praising them as diligent and hardworking. During a meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi envoy said the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka is issuing a good number of visas every day, which is adding up to the already 3 million workforces employed in Saudi Arabia. Both the Foreign Secretary and the Ambassador underscored the necessity of maintaining continuous engagement between their governments, including political consultations and the high-level Joint Economic Commission (JEC) as well as the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) on Manpower between the two countries. During the meeting, the Ambassador briefed the Foreign Secretary on some pending Saudi initiatives, including establishment of Iconic Mosques and an Arabic Language Institute in Dhaka and sought his cooperation in expediting them. The Saudi envoy also apprised him on the current Saudi investment initiatives in the port logistics and renewable and power sectors, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Secretary Jashim assured the Ambassador of his commitment to addressing any outstanding issues and encouraged him to explore further potential for increasing investment from KSA. He pledged full support to facilitate the removal of any obstacles hindering such investments. The Foreign Secretary appreciated Saudi Arabia’s role in deescalating regional tensions and fostering stability. Commending its leadership role to the Islamic Ummah, he reaffirmed Bangladesh's unwavering support to Saudi Arabia in achieving regional stability. Jashim also expressed Bangladesh’s solidarity with the Palestinian cause and called for urgent action for the realization of a Two-State solution. The Ambassador congratulated the Foreign Secretary on his assumption of responsibilities of the Ministry. The Foreign Secretary thanked him and shared some recent developments taking place in the country in addition to the initiatives and reforms agenda taken up by the Interim Government. The Ambassador recalled Bangladesh's steadfast support for Saudi Arabia in various international fora, including the upcoming 2034 Football World Cup and IORA, and expressed gratitude for the enduring fraternity between the two nations.

Indian Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday said 70 percent of the total trade between Bangladesh and India through land routes occurs via Petrapole. He said Petrapole is the largest and busiest land port in South Asia, which enhances their trade and movement. The Indian Minister made remarks while inaugurating a new passenger terminal building and a “Maitri Dwar” in Petrapole, West Bengal built at a cost of Rs. 487 crore by the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI). The initiative is seen as a "significant step" towards improving cross-border trade and immigration infrastructure that will increase economic activity in a mutually beneficially manner. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, the Secretary Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Chairman of LPAI, were present. “Maitri Dwar” will allow smooth passage of transport with handling capacity of over 600-700 trucks per day. The Home Minister directed officials to ensure the conservation of the local environment by planting 25,000 saplings of such trees having a life of 200 years or more. He mentioned that facilities such as automatic number plate recognition, boom barriers, facial recognition machines, and access control for entry and exit have been provided for seamless movement, according to the Indian Home Ministry. Amit Shah vows to stop infiltration into India from its border with Bangladesh  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated this in 2016-17, the trade volume was ₹18,000 crore, which has increased to ₹30,500 crore in 2023-24, reflecting a 64% growth.

Bangladesh has unequivocally condemned the recent Israeli military strikes on Iran, viewing these actions as a severe violation of the country’s  sovereignty and a breach of the United Nations Charter and international law. “Such provocations threaten to destabilise an already fragile region, with far-reaching consequences for regional and global peace and security,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Sunday. Bangladesh urged the international community to act collectively in support of a stable Middle East, underscoring that diplomacy and mutual respect remain the only viable path to lasting peace. Bangladesh also called upon the regional and the global stakeholders to use their influence to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. “We stress that commitment to international norms, dialogue, and respect for sovereignty is paramount to maintaining stability in the Middle East region and beyond,” said the MoFA.

Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that infiltration into India from the Indo-Bangladesh border will stop completely if BJP comes to power in West Bengal in 2026. “Peace will come once infiltration stops. Partnership with neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar in terms of business and cultural aspects will be enhanced. In terms of progress, several initiatives can be possible,” Shah said as he inaugurated the Passenger Terminal Building and Maitri Dwar at Land Port in Bengal's Petrapole, reports the Economic Times. “Modi is determined to work towards the prosperity of Bengal…Bengal will become ‘Sonar Bangla’ and BJP will leave no stones unturned to ensure development here,” Shah said. The New Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at Petrapole land port is set to enhance the travel experience between India and Bangladesh. Designed to reflect the grandeur of international transport hubs, the PTB at Petrapole is equipped with all modern facilities, including VIP lounges, Duty free shop and basic medical facilities.   Benapole (Bangladesh)-Petrapole (India) is one of the most important land border crossings for Bangladesh and India both in terms of trade and passenger movement. Maitri Dwar is a joint cargo gate at zero line agreed by both the countries is expected to significantly accelerate release and clearance of goods at the border, thereby enhancing trade efficiency. Nearly 70 percent of land-based trade (by value) between India and Bangladesh takes place through this land port. Petrapole land port is also the eighth largest international immigration port of India and facilitates movement of over 23.5 lakh passengers annually between India and Bangladesh.  

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Michael Miller has said there are many opportunities to work more on renewables in a country like Bangladesh which has a low amount of renewable capacity. He said it does mean that the opportunity is there to expand renewable energy facilities quickly, and they have both experience in the European Union and financing available. "We think there's a scope to work with Bangladesh on air quality and air pollution. But, the big investment that I would want to talk about is in renewable energy," Ambassador Miller told UNB in an interview at his Embassy office. Between 2021 and 2027, Team Europe will mobilise up to €300 billion of investments for sustainable and high-quality projects, taking into account the needs of partner countries and ensuring lasting benefits for local communities. Ambassador Miller said they had a Global Gateway Forum last year which mobilized 400 million euros as a facility from credit to help build essentially - it is building power plants, building stable grids infrastructure, and it is building interconnections. "I think it's just such an obvious area (climate change) where our partnership can be imbued with substance. So we are doing lots of work in terms of financing the environmental upgrade of the textile sector," said the Head of Delegation of the EU in Dhaka. EU eyes right process towards Bangladesh polls; also mindful of rule of law For example, Ambassador Miller said they are working very specifically on decarbonizing the brick industry, which is a huge polluter. Talking about Global Gateway, he said it is an approach to building secure and open and trusted networks. When there would be a possibility to promote cooperation with neighbours, cooperation with Nepal, for example, then these are areas where they would want to explore, said the EU envoy. "It's huge that we have the same agenda because of the climate vulnerability of this country, and because we are extremely committed to combating climate change," Miller said. In Brussels, he said, there is a huge political transition and hopefully by the middle of November, they will have a new college (of the European Commission).   "But that political transition is just going to confirm how important it is for us to take climate action," he added. Ambassador Miller said that Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is a political "rock star" with access to everywhere. EU wants to diversify trade relations with Bangladesh "Everyone listens to what he says, and it is something that Bangladesh can build upon. And for me, the approach is to deepen the partnership we have," he said. The EU thinks their engagement on all aspects of climate change will only get stronger in the coming years in line with their shared conviction about the importance of climate mitigation and adaptation. Ambassador Miller recently met Environment, Forests, Climate Change, and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan. They exchanged views on innovative initiatives to address climate change and preparations for the upcoming COP29.  Besides, environmental and social compliance in the RMG, leather, and brick sectors was discussed during their meeting. The EU reaffirmed its readiness to assist the interim government in achieving its reform objectives. "The European Union has been a key partner in Bangladesh's efforts to combat climate change and protect our rich biodiversity," said Rizwana Hasan. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Managing climate risks has been central to Bangladesh’s development story, according to the World Bank. Today, Bangladesh is recognised as a global leader in climate change adaptation and disaster preparedness. But, the World Bank says the country continues to face severe and increasing climate risks, and without strong action, climate change will undermine Bangladesh’s strong development trajectory and the poorest will be hardest hit.

The government of Thailand has decided to introduce e-visa facilities for Bangladesh passport holders traveling to Thailand. Bangladeshi travelers may avail of this service from early next year. The Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Ambassador Worawoot Pongprapant, shared this information during a meeting held recently with a delegation from the Embassy of Bangladesh, led by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand. Once the e-visa system is introduced, Bangladeshi passport holders will be able to apply for a Thai visa online from home, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok. This service has already been introduced through 69 Thai embassies globally. The Director-General also mentioned that from December 19, 2024, visa waiver will be operationalized for official passport holders of both countries. India restores e-visa services for Canadian nationals, easing diplomatic row between the 2 countries The related agreement, signed in Bangkok in April 2024, will take effect on that day. Notably, visa waiver for diplomatic passport holders have been in place since 2018. Ambassador Pongprapant advised Bangladeshi passport holders interested in long-term medical treatment in Thailand to apply for a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV). The DTV, which also covers the attendee’s visa, is valid for five years with each entry for six months. In this case, no recommendation letter from the Embassy of Bangladesh in Bangkok will be required by Thai Immigration authorities for visa extension. The Thai Director General noted that some Bangladeshi applicants have been found to have submitted fake or falsified documents with their visa applications, leading to delay in visa processing. The DG added that if this trend continued, the Thai authorities would be compelled to blacklist the relevant applicants. He advised applicants to exercise caution in this regard, especially when applying through an agent.