United News of Bangladesh

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen and his spouse Li Yu visited Grameen Bank’s Jobra branch and the museum on Friday. During the visit, they gained a detailed understanding of the development history of Grameen Bank and appreciated its contributions in enhancing the wellbeing of common people in Bangladesh. Chief adviser of the interim government and Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus started the Grameen Bank project in 1976 as an action research pilot project in Jobra village under Chattogram district. In 1983, the pilot project was transformed into a bank with the aim of alleviating poverty and empowering the marginalized poor in Bangladesh through microcredit.

The Young Activists Summit will honour five outstanding young people who have inspired and mobilised their communities to create meaningful change on November 19, 2024. Taking place at the Palais des Nations, headquarters of the United Nations Office at Geneva (Switzerland), the event will be webcast live and is open to the media. Now in its sixth edition, the Young Activists Summit (#YAS24) will showcase five inspiring individuals, aged between 19 and 29, whose impactful actions are shaping communities around the globe. Drawing from the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”, this year’s edition, carrying the theme “Go Far, Go Together”, celebrates the power of collective action. The stories of the five Laureates show how collective action by groups or movements can successfully protect the environment and defend human rights. Marley Dias, 19, USA, Black representation in the media: Marley launched the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign when she was 10, to protest against the lack of black representation in the books she read as a child. Her story went viral and was picked up by media around the world. Bloggers, schools, youth organizations and countless people have helped Marley collect over 15,000 books to date, donating them to libraries, schools and people in need. Read: China seeks deeper economic ties with ASEAN at summit talks as South China Sea disputes lurk Marley also wrote “Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!” and launched Green Ribbon Week to highlight the need for mental health resources for teenagers. In 2020, Marley produced and hosted her show “Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices” on Netflix, with celebrities reading books featuring black characters and authors. Marley has been invited to the White House on several occasions. Sohanur Rahman, 27, Bangladesh, Democracy & Climate action: After surviving super-cyclone Sidr as a child, Sohanur recognized the extreme vulnerability of communities to climate-induced disasters, which hit Bangladesh especially hard. This led him to become a key figure in the country’s fight against climate change. In 2016, he founded YouthNet for Climate Justice, to raise awareness of climate issues among younger generations. In 2019, a campaign led by YouthNet led the Parliament of Bangladesh to declare the climate crisis a planetary emergency. YouthNet also helped halt the construction of ten coal plants. Recently, Sohanur and his group played a key role in peaceful student protests advocating for greater democracy in Bangladesh. This uprising ultimately led to the ousting of the country’s Prime Minister, who had been in power for the past 15 years. Today, Sohanur continues to push for climate action to be prioritized on the interim government’s agenda. Shanley McLaren, 25, France, Online gender-based violence: At a time when more and more intimate content or pornographic deepfakes are posted without the consent of those who are in those pictures, Shanley launched Stop Fisha to protect victims of cybersexism. Stop Fisha has now become a “trusted flagger”, enabling the organization to report non-consensual content to social media platforms more easily, so that the content is taken down and the accounts shut down faster. Stop Fisha also offers psychological support and legal advice to victims, in collaboration with like-minded organizations based in other countries. The organization has also allowed new laws to be passed in France, to prevent online gender-based online violence, sextortion, deepfake pornography, and more. Alvaro Quiroz, 25, Mexico, Helping the homeless: Alvaro found himself on the streets during his teenage years, when he fled his hometown to escape from an environment that rejected his sexuality. Just as he was about to commit suicide, a woman heard his cries and took him to a shelter where he was able to start a new life and study art. At the age of 21, Alvaro created Brigada12 to help homeless people. His non-profit organizes art sales to fund its activities, and has engaged thousands of people to deliver millions of meals, and toys. Brigada12 also provides training and psychological support, thus enabling the homeless to find jobs and live in dignity. In addition, the organization offers targeted help specifically for children and young parents. Cynthia Houniuhi, 29, Solomon Islands, Climate change & human rights: Cynthia is President of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC). Read more: Egypt invites CA Prof Yunus to attend D-8 Summit this year While studying at the University of the South Pacific, Cynthia and 26 of her classmates called on the governments of Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Solomon Islands to ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an advisory opinion on the obligations of states regarding climate change, including from a human rights perspective. This request achieved a historic unanimous agreement from the UN General Assembly, the first advisory opinion request of its kind to be passed. Her organisation is now made up of 100 members, and its outreach goes far beyond the Pacific, as many Small Island Developing States around the world are threatened by rising sea levels due to global warming. The five Laureates will participate in the Young Activists Summit in person at the Palais des Nations on 19 November 2024 and will be available for interviews in the run-up to the event, and on the day of the Summit. A media kit, video news releases, b-roll footage and pictures of the activists in their communities, and of their causes will be made available to journalists. Registration will open in the coming weeks. To attend the Summit in person, media representatives are required to hold valid UNOG-issued media credentials; media without credentials can register here. The Summit is organised by the United Nations Office at Geneva, the NGO dev.tv, Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a protest with the government of Myanmar over the killing of a Bangladeshi fisherman by Myanmar Navy near St. Martin's island. The victim Usman (60), hailing from Kona Para, Shah Pori Island, Teknaf Upazila, Cox’s Bazar, was killed on October 9 on Wednesday. In a diplomatic note sent to the Embassy of Myanmar in Dhaka, Bangladesh expressed deep concern over this tragic incident, further compounded by the abduction of approximately fifty-eight (58) Bangladeshi fishermen and six (6) fishing boats, including the boat of Usman, while they were fishing near St. Martin’s Union in Teknaf Upazila, Bangladesh. Read: Bangladeshi fisherman killed in firing from Myanmar; 2 injured The fishermen, along with the boats, were eventually released yesterday in two phases following contact between the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Myanmar Navy. The government of Bangladesh urges Myanmar to take immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of such unwarranted actions. Myanmar is reminded to fully respect the integrity of Bangladesh’s territorial waters and refrain from any further provocations. Read more: Myanmar deports over 50,000 illegal foreigners

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo has reaffirmed the United Nations' strong support for the reform initiatives of Bangladesh's interim government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus. "Had a productive meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin, discussing the country’s transition, regional challenges, and cooperation with UN," she said in a message through X, formerly known as Twitter. The UN USG expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s generosity towards the Rohingya and reiterated the UN support for its reform efforts. The meeting was held in New York on October 10 during Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin’s maiden visit to New York, underscoring Bangladesh's commitment to multilateralism and its collaborative efforts with the United Nations. Terming the UN support as ‘crucial’ in realising the aspiration of July-August revolution, the foreign secretary thanked DiCarlo for the reaffirmation of support, according to a message received from Bangladesh's Permanent Mission to the UN on Friday. During the meeting, they also discussed Bangladesh’s contribution to UN peace architecture, and the protracted Rohingya crisis. On UN peace operations, the foreign secretary made a request to the UN through USG to increase representation of Bangladeshi nationals at the senior policy making levels. On the Rohingya issue, he underlined ‘global attention as well as global action’ to solve the Rohingya crisis. He expressed concerns at the current conflict situation in Myanmar, which is leading to new influx of Rohingyas inside the territory of Bangladesh. Read: Fakhrul wants interim govt to focus on reforms for credible elections Alluding to the possible spill over in the entire region, the foreign secretary urged the UN to play a greater role in resolving the crisis in Myanmar and facilitating the repatriation of the Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar. He also assured Bangladesh’s full cooperation to the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General. The foreign secretary recalled the proposal of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to convene an international Conference on the Rohingya crisis, and requested the support of the United Nations in that regard. In response, the Under-Secretary-General appreciated the ongoing cooperation between the interim Government of Bangladesh and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. She offered further cooperation to advance the reform initiatives in key areas. The USG commended the role of Bangladesh in UN Peacekeeping. On the Rohingya issue, she expressed hope that new Special Envoy of the Secretray General, Julie Bishop will continue to work with all stakeholders to address this issue comprehensively. Earlier the foreign secretary delivered a statement at the Third Committee of the General Assembly on ‘advancement of women’. In his statement he highlighted the importance of investing in women education and skill development, and underscored the need to mobilize necessary financial resources in this regard. He emphasised Bangladesh government’s initiatives in female education, gender parity, close digital divide, ensure wellbeing and economic empowerment of women to make them self-reliant. Read more: Italy offers support for Bangladesh's police reforms, safe migration The foreign secretary also highlighted Bangladesh's commitment to the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, CEDAW and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda while mentioning Bangladesh’s key role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the adoption of its founding resolution 1325 in 2000. Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith was present at the meeting with the Under-Secretary General.

American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) President Syed Ershad Ahmed has emphasized the importance of branding Bangladesh as an investment destination through "strategic diplomacy." He advocated for measures for the ease of business operation for the existing US investors and a transparent predictable legal and regulatory environment for attracting potential foreign direct investment (FDI).  Ershad Ahmed led an AmCham delegation during a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and discussed the issues.  Director General (North America Wing) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khandker Masudul Alam, Director Samia Israt Ronee and other North America Wing team members were present at the meeting held on Wednesday.  The delegation also addressed visa processing facilitation across several countries, highlighting its significance in supporting international business operations. The Adviser expressed his commitment to these matters, assuring the delegation that these issues are under active consideration. He also encouraged ongoing collaboration for necessary support.  The AmCham team reiterated their commitment to fostering strong relationships with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and promoting favorable policies that promote trade and investment in Bangladesh.  The AmCham President also handed over “AmCham Recommendations: The Way Forward” and a couple of AmCham research reports related to Bangladesh trade and business. Along with Syed Ershad Ahmed, Rubaba Dowla, Country Managing Director, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, Oracle Corporation; Ala Uddin Ahmad, CEO, MetLife; Habib Bhuiyan, Country Manager, Excelerate Energy Bangladesh Ltd; Kabir Ahmed, Chairman, Conveyor Logistics Limited and President, BAFFA; Momshad Ali Khan, Director, Coca-Cola Bangladesh Ltd.; and Chowdhury Kaiser Mohammad Riyadh, Secretary, AmCham Bangladesh were present at the meeting.

Bangladesh is likely to witness several visits from the United Nations this year, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk's likely visit this month, officials in Dhaka and New York said. They cited two reasons for the visits: a new interim government in place and Bangladesh's 50 years of UN membership. The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, made a phone call to Bangladesh interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in August. Russian Ambassador, Foreign Adviser discuss strengthening ties in energy, trade, and food security 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. On September 17, 1974, Bangladesh became a full member of the United Nations. As part of ongoing engagement with the interim government, an advance team of the UN rights body visited Bangladesh from August 22-29 and met with student leaders of the recent protests, as well as 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. Earlier, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk received an official invitation from the Chief Adviser to conduct an impartial and independent fact-finding mission into human rights violations committed from 1 July to 15 August. Steps taken to ensure safe return of Bangladeshis from war-hit Lebanon: MoFA 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, and making recommendations to advance justice and accountability and for longer-term reforms. Once Volker Turk visits Bangladesh, he will meet Chief Adviser Prof Yunus and Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, in addition to his meetings with other stakeholders.

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy on Wednesday met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and both reflected on key areas of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. They mentioned areas of cooperation, including energy, food security, trade as well as multilateral issues of mutual importance.  Dr Yunus praises Russian cooperation in power, energy sectors During the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Adviser congratulated the Ambassador for the successful completion of his tenure and expressed appreciation for his role in strengthening the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and the Russian Federation.  The Ambassador thanked the government of Bangladesh for the support and cooperation extended during his tenure and expressed hope for strengthened ties between the two countries in future. The Adviser wished him success in his future endeavors.  

Canadian High Commission in Dhaka has extended greetings to all who are celebrating the Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Hindu community. "Happy DurgaPuja! Our best wishes of joy and prosperity extend to all those celebrating around the world," said the High Commission in a message on Wednesday. A celebration of common values such as resilience and unity, Durga Puja highlights the importance of religious freedom and the ability to worship in peace and security, the message reads.

Protesting the latest border killing, the government of Bangladesh on Wednesday called upon the Indian government to put an end to the recurrence of such heinous acts. Bangladesh also urged India to probe all the border killings, identify those responsible and bring them to justice. BSF kills 33-year-old man at Cumilla border The Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally protested the killing of a Bangladeshi national, Md Kamal Hossain, who hailed from Sadar South upazila in Cumilla district. He was shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) on October 7, 2024. In the protest note sent to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday, Bangladesh expressed serious concern that, despite repeated commitments from the relevant authorities in India to bring down border killings to ‘zero level’, such incidents by the BSF continue to occur. Another Bangladeshi teen shot dead by BSF along Thakurgaon border The government of Bangladesh stressed that such incidents of border killings are undesirable and unwarranted; and such actions are in violation of the provisions of the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities, 1975. The BSF has killed 31 Bangladeshis in 2023, with 28 of these fatalities resulting from gunfire, according to Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a human rights organisation. It says the total number of Bangladeshis killed by the BSF from 2009 to 2022 stands at 563.

The government has taken an initiative to ensure safe return of Bangladeshis who got stuck in troubled Lebanon, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment are working together for the return of Bangladeshis trapped in war-torn Lebanon. The government is working closely with all concerned to bring back all the Bangladeshis who wish to return from Lebanon safely, said the MoFA. Khurshed Alam will carry out Foreign Secretary’s routine activities until further notice: MoFA An inter-ministerial meeting has already been held with the participation of Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, Expatriates’ Welfare Secretary Md Ruhul Amin and Managing Director & CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited Dr. Md. Shafiqur Rahman. Bangladesh Mission Heads assigned to the Middle East joined the meeting on the Zoom platform. The Foreign Secretary has issued necessary instructions to the Bangladeshi ambassador in Lebanon to take necessary measures for the safe return of Bangladeshis stranded in Lebanon. He also gave necessary instructions to ensure the safety of all the expatriate Bangladeshis staying there who do not want to come to the country. Already, a notification has been issued to enroll Bangladeshis who wish to return from the embassy and initially about a thousand migrant workers are said to be willing to return home.