United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has discussed diverse areas to deepen cooperation between Bangladesh and the USA with USAID Administrator Samantha Power. They specifically discussed cooperation in the areas of transport, energy, justice and youth. The meeting was held on Wednesday (US time) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. On Tuesday, the United States announced nearly $199 million in additional humanitarian assistance to address the needs of Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh and the region, including over $129 million through USAID and nearly $70 million from the U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya announced the funding at a Rohingya-focused event during the UN General Assembly High-level week. USAID’s assistance includes funding from the bipartisan National Security Supplemental as well as $78 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which will help to purchase, ship, and distribute approximately 52,200 metric tons of food commodities from American farmers to approximately 610,000 refugees experiencing acute food insecurity in Bangladesh. It will also support the International Rescue Committee, UNICEF, and the UN World Food Program to provide food, nutrition, and protection assistance to Rohingya refugees and host communities. The U.S. government has provided more than $2.5 billion for the regional Rohingya response since August 2017, including more than $2.1 billion in Bangladesh. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk also met Prof Yunus on Wednesday. They discussed areas of work of mutual interest in Bangladesh towards securing justice, freedom, and human rights.  Turk lauded the Interim Government’s continuing reform initiatives.

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday called for the revival of SAARC as a top platform for regional cooperation in South Asia. "Reviving SAARC could be a good way to start it and seek Pakistan’s support," he said when he met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters. During the meeting, the two leaders underscored the need to revitalise bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Shehbaz Sharif promised his support for the initiative and suggested the countries move step by step in reviving the regional platform.   Sharif said Bangladesh and Pakistan should open a “new page” in their relations to enhance cooperation in various aspects. “It’s very essential we revive our relations,” he said. Sharif expressed Pakistan’s interest in investing in Bangladesh's textile and leather sectors, according to the Chief Adviser's press wing. Prof Yunus proposed an exchange of youth programs between the two countries. They also discussed renewing foreign secretary-level talks and reactivating the joint commission between the two countries. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain was also present during the talks. Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa greeted Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

Holding former US President Bill Clinton's hands, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus introduced three young Bangladeshis to the audience at an event in New York, seeking support for them to implement their dreams of building a new Bangladesh. "Please help them, support them, so that their dreams come true. This is the responsibility we take together," Prof Yunus said, taking the three youngsters on the stage including Mahfuj Alam and Brac University student Aysha Siddiqua Tithi amid rounds of applause from the floor. The Bangladesh Chief Adviser shared the stage with former US President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 meeting in New York on Tuesday afternoon (NY time). Prof Yunus said the young people of Bangladesh are creating a new version of the country. Referring to his Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam, Prof Yunus said he (Mahfuj) is the man behind the whole revolution. "They (students) mobilized the whole nation together," he said, adding that sky's the limit. Prof Yunus said young people should be leading the way. Holding Prof Yunus' hands, Bill Clinton said, “I am very, very proud of you. I am very grateful for you." "I think all of us should wish Bangladesh well so that we can support them," Clinton said. Against the backdrop of elections worldwide that highlight strains on democracy, Clinton urged attendees of his foundation’s annual meeting to meet their communities’ needs through collective action. Strong democratic institutions, Clinton argued, are necessary to achieve the social impact sought by the political, business, and philanthropic leaders convened this week by the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. “Being here and making commitments to action can actually deliver real results to real people,” he said Monday morning. “It’s the best way we can strengthen faith in those kinds of democratic institutions.” It was a strong endorsement of philanthropy’s ability to help address discontented voters’ concerns at a time when surveys show higher levels of trust in the nonprofit sector than others. The Clinton Foundation underscored the outlook over the past two days through its theme of “What’s Working,” unveiling 175 new commitments that seek to prove even the greatest challenges in these tumultuous times have solutions.

The government has decided to appoint Mohammad Khorshed Alam Khastagir as the next Ambassador of Bangladesh to Poland, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. He is currently serving as the Minister (Political) and Deputy High Commissioner at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. Khastagir, a career diplomat belonging to the 20th batch of BCS (Foreign Affairs) cadre, joined Bangladesh Foreign Service in 2001. Prior to joining his current assignment in October 2020, he served as the Director/Director General of Europe and EU Wing and International Organisations Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2015-2019). In his diplomatic career, Khastagir also served as First Secretary at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (2008-2010) and as Charge d'affaires/Counsellor at the Bangladesh Embassy in Muscat, Oman (2011-2014). Khastagir obtained an interdisciplinary Master of Marine Management (Law and Policy) degree from the Dalhousie University, Canada, under the CIDA Marine Scholarship Program (2004-2005). Earlier, he graduated from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He also attended several professional development courses/training programs both at home and abroad.

Additional Foreign Secretary Riaz Hamidullah has said Bangladesh has discussed ways to activate established mechanisms with India to continue discussions on issues of mutual interest. He mentioned Foreign Office Consultations as one of the established mechanisms with India for bilateral discussions. "Activating those established mechanisms was discussed," he said on Tuesday night (New York time) when a reporter wanted to know about the recent meeting between Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the UNGA. Bangladesh to initiate talks with India over shared river water rights: Adviser Rizwana "This was the first meeting between them," Riaz said. Bangladesh sees this meeting as a positive step. Riaz said there are many issues between the two countries, including the border situation. "Had a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain of Bangladesh in New York this (Monday) evening. The conversation focussed on our bilateral ties," Jaishankar wrote on X after the meeting.

The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), under the Stockpile Project funded by the Government of Japan, officially handed over critical medical supplies to the Government of Bangladesh to support the country in combating dengue, cholera, and other emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) while strengthening its health system. The project, funded by the Government of Japan and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and implemented by BDRCS and IFRC, aims to enhance preparedness for public health emergencies by supplying critical medical devices and consumables to hospitals nationwide. The handover ceremony, held in Dhaka, was attended by Prof. Dr. Nazmul Hosain, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); IWAMA Kiminori, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh; Dr. Kabir Md. Ashraf Alam ndc, Secretary General, BDRCS; and Alexander Matheou, Asia Pacific Regional Director of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), along with other dignitaries. IWAMA Kiminori, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, said, " The current flood will leave a lasting impact on people. I hope this fund will continue supporting the Bangladesh government and Directorate General of Health Services in better preparing and responding to other disasters and diseases. Japan will continue to support the improvement of this situation and the health and well-being of Bangladeshis as we have since the 1970’s." Prof. Dr. Nazmul Hosain, Director General of DGHS, emphasized the significant role BDRCS has played in supporting Bangladesh’s health services.   “Earlier this year, BDRCS provided 7,500 COVID-19 RT-PCR kits with VTM and 10,000 Rapid Antigen Kits, greatly enhancing our pandemic response. During the recent southeastern flash floods, they also swiftly responded to our request by delivering 50,000 bottles of Cholera Saline, with 20,000 bottles already sent to the most affected districts, including Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, and Comilla, “ he said. Dr. Kabir M. Ashraf Alam, Secretary General of BDRCS, said, “ The Stockpile Project, in collaboration with IFRC, has already distributed critical supplies to hospitals across the country, including 100,000 bottles of Cholera Saline, 60,000 Dengue Combo Testing Kits, and various saline solutions.” The ceremony concluded with a formal exchange of gratitude between Bangladesh and Japan, reaffirming the importance of international collaboration in addressing health challenges in Bangladesh.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed confidence in the resilience of India's diplomatic ties with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, despite recent political shifts in both countries. Speaking at an event titled "India, Asia, and the World," hosted by the Asia Society and the Asia Society Policy Institute, Jaishankar reassured that India's approach to its neighbors remains "positive and constructive." Jaishankar responded to concerns over whether changes in leadership, including the ousting of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the election of Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake as Sri Lanka’s new president, would strain India’s relations with its neighbors. "I would urge you not to be deterministic about it. It's not like India is seeking to control every political move of every neighbor. That's not how it works," he said, as quoted by India Today. Jaishankar underscored that each nation’s political dynamics will evolve independently, but mutual benefits and regional interdependence will continue to drive cooperation. "I'm very confident... the realities of interdependence or mutual benefit and our ability to get along will serve both our interests. Those realities will assert themselves," he added. Addressing India’s crucial support to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis, Jaishankar highlighted the importance of India's timely intervention. "When nobody else came forward... I'm very glad we did it. We did it in a timely manner. We did it on scale. We put out USD 4.5 billion effectively," he said, emphasizing that India's aid was given without political strings attached. "We were doing it as a good neighbor who did not want to see that kind of economic meltdown at our doorstep." Jaishankar stressed that political decisions in Sri Lanka, including those following Dissanayake’s election as president, are for Sri Lankans to make. "At the end of the day, each of our neighbors will have their own particular dynamics. It's not our intention to suggest that their dynamics must necessarily adhere to what we might consider as being better for us," he said. On Bangladesh, Jaishankar pointed to a decade of economic collaboration as a foundation for continued positive relations. "What we have done over the last decade is to do projects of various kinds which have been good for both of us. Economic activity overall has picked up, and logistics of that region have improved," he noted. He emphasized that India's long-term projects with Bangladesh would continue to benefit both nations, regardless of the leadership changes. Jaishankar remained optimistic about India's relationships with both countries. "Every few years, something happens in our region, and people suggest that there is some kind of irretrievable situation out there. You then see the correctives beginning to manifest themselves... I am quite confident that in both these cases, our relationship would continue to be positive and constructive."

Bangladesh will soon take steps to start negotiations with India over its rightful share of water from transboundary rivers, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Water Resources on Wednesday. “Public opinion will be taken into consideration during the negotiations, and the outcomes will be shared with the people,” she said while speaking at a seminar titled "Bangladesh's Fair Share of Water in Shared Rivers," held at the conference hall of the Pani Bhaban in the capital, in observance of World Rivers Day, as a chief guest. "The issue of sharing water from international rivers is complex," she said, emphasizing the need for the exchange of crucial information, including rainfall data and the location of structures. "This data exchange should be free from political influence, as it is critical for preventing damage to lives and property." She further noted that a country cannot approach the International Court unilaterally on such matters; both nations must be involved. Sharing rainfall data is a humanitarian issue, crucial for saving lives, said Rizwana adding. “Bangladesh's claims will be made clearly and strongly.” She also stressed the importance of protecting the country's internal rivers, describing them as living entities that must be collectively preserved. The seminar was presided over by Mihir Biswas, convenor of the World Rivers Day Celebration Council, and moderated by Md Alamgir Kabir, General Secretary of BAPA. The keynote presentation was delivered by Md Ejaz, Director of the River and Delta Research Center. Other speakers included Md Shahidul Islam, Professor of Geography and Environment at Dhaka University, and Shamsul Huda, Executive Director of the Association for Land Reform and Development. Researchers, environmentalists, and government officials from various universities participated in the seminar. The speakers discussed methods to ensure equitable distribution of shared river waters and emphasized the need for the application of international law, accurate water data, and the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral discussions on river management.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has 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.  "Our job is to clean it up and reform it. We need to make a good start. We need all of your support to make that happen," he said while speaking at a reception on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday evening (New York time). Representatives of the countries attending the UNGA joined the reception hosted by Bangladesh to mark the 50th anniversary of the country’s United Nations membership.  On September 17, 1974, Bangladesh became a full member of the United Nations. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, Principal Coordinator (SDGs Affairs) Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, Additional Foreign Secretary Riaz Hamidullah, Deputy Press Secretaries Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar and Apurba Jahangir were present.  Photographer, writer, curator and activist Shahidul Alam joined Prof Yunus in unveiling two books that depict events of the student-led mass uprising.  Recalling the sacrifices made by the students, Prof Yunus said the whole nation is united today. "We don't want to make them (who dreamt of a new Bangladesh) disappointed." Prof Yunus said the students invited him to lead the interim government until the election is held, following implementation of the reforms agenda.  "It is a very significant year for us. It is brought by the young people of Bangladesh," he said.  Earlier, the United Nations conveyed best wishes to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus as he attends the UNGA when Bangladesh is celebrating its 50 years relationship with the United Nations. "My best wishes to Chief Advisor, Dr. Yunus, as he attends the General Assembly. This year, Bangladesh celebrates its 50-year relationship with the UN," said UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Gwyn Lewis in a brief message shared on X.  Chief Adviser Prof Yunus spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of an event at the UN headquarters on Tuesday.  He also shared the stage with former US President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 meeting. Yunus is on his first visit to the United States as head of the Bangladesh government to attend the 79th UNGA. The general debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly began on Tuesday and will continue through Saturday, September 28, and conclude on Monday, September 30, 2024. The theme for the general debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly is "Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations".

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Tuesday pledged support to Bangladesh's reform initiatives, saying the Washington-based lender has sent a team in Dhaka to hold talks with the stakeholders over the matter. "The IMF remains fully committed to Bangladesh and will continue to help advance the reform agenda for sustainable and equitable growth," she said during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters. The IMF chief applauded Prof Yunus' work to uplift the lives of the people of Bangladesh. "It is a different country. It is Bangladesh 2.0," Kristalina Georgieva told the chief adviser when Prof Yunus gave a short briefing on the student-led mass uprising, which ousted the previous autocratic regime. Prof Yunus spoke about the six commissions that the interim government has set up to recommend vital reforms in election, civil administration, police, judiciary, anti-corruption and constitution. He said the government would hold discussions with the political parties on the recommendations of the commissions, according to the chief adviser's press wing. Once the consensus on the reforms is reached and the voter list is prepared, the date for the vote will be announced, he said. The IMF chief executive extended her support for the initiatives. She said the lender would fast-track financial support for the government. She said she had sent an IMF team "quickly" to Bangladesh and it is now in Dhaka at the moment. The team would place its report to the IMF management board next month. Georgieva said the IMF board could initiate a new lending programme for Bangladesh based on the report of the team or it could also extend more lending under the existing support programme launched early last year. Energy, Power and Transport Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan and eminent economist Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya attended the meeting. Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan told the IMF chief that the interim government took just a week to "dismantle the architecture of crimes" in the power and energy sector. Dr Debapriya stressed the need for IMF support to bolster the country's balance of payment. He said the role of IMF would be critical in stabilising exchange rates.