United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday urged global leaders to end hunger and wars, proposing six measures to transform the system and ensure global food security amid 2.7 trillion dollars in annual military spending. "While we couldn’t raise a few billion dollars to end hunger, the world spent 2.7 trillion dollars on weapons. Is this how we define progress?," he said while delivering his keynote speech. Prof Yunus called for breaking the hunger–conflict cycle — stop the wars, start the dialogue, and ensure food access in conflict zones. "Keep the promises — fulfill the SDG finance commitments, take climate action seriously, and help the most vulnerable build resilience," said the Chief Adviser. He called for creating regional food banks — to manage shocks and stabilize supply chains. "Create and support local entrepreneurs, particularly youth entrepreneurs — with finance, infrastructure, and global partnerships," Prof Yunus said. He called for ending export bans and said trade rules must support food security, not undermine it. "Ensure access to and development of technology and innovation — especially for the Global South, and to the rural youth, both boys and girls," said Prof Yunus while sharing six steps. The 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) began on October 10 and runs through October 17, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization at its headquarters. Prof Yunus receives warm welcome at FAO headquarters The theme for the week-long event is ‘Hand in Hand for better foods and a better future’, and it focuses on three pillars: Global Youth Action, Science and Innovation, and Hand-In-Hand Investment. The World Food Forum (WFF) is an open and inclusive global platform established by the Youth Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2021 to drive the transformation of agrifood systems through the power of youth, science and innovation, and investment. It brought together stakeholders of all ages and sectors to turn ideas into action, scale solutions and foster meaningful partnerships that accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. QU Dongyu, Director-General of FAO, invited the Chief Adviser. "Eighty years of FAO is not just a celebration. It is a call to prepare — for the future. This year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future”, reminds us: food is not just about calories. It's about dignity. It’s about justice. It’s about the world we want to live in," Prof Yunus said. He said Bangladesh is proud to support global cooperation. "We are a founding member of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Together with FAO and under the G20, we are committed to real, practical support — technical, financial, and moral," said the Chief Adviser. "Now, let us work together — to build a Three-Zero World," he said. Australia appreciates Bangladesh’s transition to inclusive future: Anne Aly The pillars of this forum — Youth, Science, Investment — are not slogans, Prof Yunus said, adding thst they are the tools they need to transform their food systems and societies. He said today’s world has resources and it has technology. "It will have more mind-boggling technology. But we need the creative ideas to use this technology with appropriate business format to create a new world. If we can imagine it, we can create it." Prof Yunus said last year, people of Bangladesh rose peacefully to reclaim their power to ensure democracy, peace, and human rights for all. It was our youth — young people full of courage and hope — who led that movement. "Their demand was simple: to give power back to the people. To create a society based on fairness, inclusion, and trust," he said. Prof Yunus said he is very happy that the Nobel Peace Laureates alliance for Food Security and Peace which was established by FAO in 2016 and of which he is a member has been recognized as an FAO milestone. "I hope it will continue to create more milestones," Prof Yunus said. "But let us speak the truth clearly: Hunger is not caused by scarcity. It is caused by the failure of the economic framework that we have designed. In 2024, 673 million people went hungry," the Chief Adviser said. "Yet we produce more than enough food. This is not a failure of production — it’s a failure of the economic system. It’s a moral failure," he said. Prof Yunus said they must go deeper, and rethink the entire economic system. Prof Yunus urges IFAD to create Social Business Fund for young agri-entrepreneurs in Bangladesh "The old way —which is based on profit-maximising business, — has left billions behind. We need to add a new kind of business — social business, business without personal profit, — that solves problems, not creates them, by creating sustainable businesses," he said. Many social businesses are growing around the world but without policy support and institutional recognition, he said. "Ultimate objective is to create a ‘Three-Zero World’: A world with Zero Wealth Concentration to end Poverty; Zero Unemployment, by replacing it with entrepreneurship for all and Zero Net Carbon Emissions," he said. This is not a dream, Prof Yunus said. "It is a necessity, the only way to save the world." Prof Yunus said Social business is the way forward. "We’ve seen its power in Bangladesh. Grameen Bank showed how poor women can be powerful entrepreneurs." He said they must create social business funds — to support young entrepreneurs, women, farmers, agri-business creators and technology developers. "We must build legal and financial frameworks to support this kind of entrepreneurship — not stand in its way," Prof Yunus said. "And this brings me to the most important part: our youth. Today’s young people are not like before. They are connected. They are creative. They have technology in their hands that was unthinkable just 20 years ago," he added. Prof Yunus said, "Let’s not tell them to wait for jobs. Let’s empower them to create jobs. Let’s tell them: you are not job-seekers — you are job creators." Prof Yunus arrives in Rome to attend FAO’s World Food Forum He also said, "Let us give them access to capital — by creating investment funds and social business funds. Let us help create agri-innovation hubs. Let us support agri-tech, circular food systems, climate-smart enterprises — all can be led by the youth." Prof Yunus said if they invest in youth, they will not only feed the world, they change the world.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus received a warm reception upon his arrival at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on Monday. FAO Director General Qu Dongyu greeted him at the entrance of the FAO headquarters, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. The Chief Adviser met Brazilian agronomist and writer José Graziano da Silva at the FAO headquarters in Rome.

The WHO South-East Asia Region has made the fastest progress globally in reducing tobacco use, according to the latest ‘WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2024 and projections 2025-2030’. Yet, with more than 322 million adults and 8.6 million adolescents in the Region still using tobacco, stronger policies, higher taxes, expanded cessation services, and regulation of new nicotine products are urgently needed to protect people’s health. Three countries- Bangladesh, India and Nepal - are on track to achieve at least a 30% relative reduction by 2025, while six others - Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand - are projected to see smaller declines.  “The progress is encouraging, but millions are still using tobacco and new nicotine products. We must accelerate actions to protect children and future generations,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia.  “Countries of South-East Asia have shown what can be achieved with strong political commitment, comprehensive policies and community engagement,” she said as the latest trends showed the Region already achieved the global target of 30% reduction in tobacco use by 2021, four years ahead of schedule. Prof Yunus urges IFAD to create Social Business Fund for young agri-entrepreneurs in Bangladesh Once the global hotspot for tobacco consumption, the Region in 2000 reported the World’s highest tobacco use prevalence among men (70.1%) and women (38%). By 2024, prevalence had dropped to 37.4% among men and 9.3% among women, among the fastest declines ever recorded. Despite the progress, the Region remains home to a quarter of the world’s tobacco users, including over 288 million smokeless tobacco users, 80% of the global total. In addition, there are an estimated 1.8 million adult and 500 000 adolescent electronic cigarette users in the Region.  While the numbers for e-cigarettes are indicative, the actual number may be much higher and present a growing health concern, especially among the youth. Prof Yunus arrives in Rome to attend FAO’s World Food Forum “Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of disease, disability, and death in the Region. Governments must continue to implement comprehensive tobacco control measures based on the evidence-based policies advocated by WHO FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) and the MPOWER package, including closing regulatory gaps, and preventing children and adolescents from being initiated into nicotine use,” said Dr Boehme. WHO has been working with Member States in the Region advocating for access to cessation services, raising taxes on all tobacco products, enforcing smoke-free policies, strengthening graphic health warnings, enforcing the TAPS (tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship) ban and regulating novel nicotine and tobacco products. These evidence-based interventions are critical to accelerating declines and protecting future generations from the devastating harms of tobacco. Globally, tobacco use is projected to fall by 120 million users between 2010 and 2025, with the WHO South-East Asia Region accounting for more than half of this reduction, with 69 million fewer tobacco users.  

Australian Minister for Small Business, International Development and Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly on Monday said Australia welcomes Bangladesh’s transition to a democratic and inclusive future and is committed to supporting these efforts. “This week I will visit Bangladesh and India to deepen Australia’s engagement with the Indian Ocean region,” she said in a statement. In Bangladesh, the Australian Minister will highlight their longstanding development cooperation, including by launching the Australia-Bangladesh Development Partnership Plan 2025-2030. "I will also visit Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, where Bangladesh hosts over 1.1 million displaced Rohingyas. This is the largest and most complex humanitarian crisis in our region," she said. Australia has committed a further $370 million over the next three years in humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, and displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh and their host communities. This brings our total commitment since 2017 to over $1.26 billion. She will then travel to India, where she looks forward to engaging with Indian political and multi-faith leaders to continue expanding our growing people to people connections. With nearly one million Australians of Indian ancestry now calling Australia home, community connections are a critical part of this important relationship. The Australian Minister will deliver a keynote address at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre where she will highlight the significant contributions made by Indian Australian communities in shaping Australia’s proud multicultural identity and advancing our bilateral relationship. These visits are a demonstration of the Albanese government’s commitment to working with their Indian Ocean partners to shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

French Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh, M. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, has encouraged Bangladeshi students seeking to study abroad to consider France as a destination offering top-quality education, affordable tuition fees, and a vibrant international environment. He made the remarks while speaking at the “Choose France Tour” at the Alliance Française de Dhaka on Monday.  The two-day event, now in its second edition, will conclude on Tuesday in Chattogram.  Highlighting the growing interest from French universities in Bangladeshi students, the ambassador noted that while ten universities participated in last year’s event, twelve are taking part this year. Addressing concerns about language barriers, the ambassador said, “Let me reassure you that you can live in France nowadays as most people in big cities speak English. Universities also offer courses entirely in English, so it is not an issue.” Bangladesh seeks regional cooperation, truth platforms to counter dis/misinformation According to Campus France Bangladesh , the French government agency hosting the event, students from Bangladesh can choose from nearly 1,700 English-taught programmes across a range of disciplines, including business, management, engineering, sciences, law, social sciences, and the arts. 

Highlighting the significant risks of misinformation and disinformation to the well-being of people and society, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir has said regional cooperation is needed to fight against misinformation and disinformation with shared verification networks and truth mechanisms. “So, let us be clear: the fight against disinformation can no longer be waged alone. We need regional cooperation, not in sentiment, but in structure. We need shared verification networks, cross-border fact-check exchanges and joint digital literacy programmes,” he said. Apurba made the remarks while presenting a paper, titled ‘Securing Truth: Regional Cooperation and the Fight Against Disinformation in Bangladesh’, at the 10th China-South and Southeast Asian Think Tank Forum” held in Kunming, China. Truth Mechanisms He said if BRICKS, SAARC, BIMSTEC could build trade mechanisms, why not truth mechanisms? The DPS said every false post has a human consequence. “In May, a rumour claimed a madrasah teacher had desecrated scripture—within hours, mobs gathered, police were attacked and a man nearly lost his life.” In this age, he said, stories seem to be written not by journalists, not by historians, but by algorithms. “And they move faster than truth ever can. In Bangladesh, we live this reality every day.” Between January and September of this year alone, Rumor Scanner Bangladesh, an independent fact checkers unit identified 2,754 pieces of verified misinformation. So, that is 10 each day, Apurba said, adding that last year, the number was even higher - 2,919 false stories. Among them, 148 pieces came not from within our borders, but from across them—mostly from 72 south east regional outlets, spreading distortions about Bangladesh every two and a half days. The DPS said disinformation is not only a domestic problem anymore; rather it is cross-border, algorithmic and often strategic. “When truth becomes porous, sovereignty follows. It becomes extra territorial, extra judicial,” he said, adding that since the interim government assumed office on August 8, last year, their days have been punctuated by waves of distortion. Apurba said a fabricated resignation letter of the Chief Adviser—shared tens of thousands of times before it could be corrected. “For every lie, there is a consequence. A market shutters. A protest begins. A rumor turns into a riot. And yet, what is most dangerous is not the falsehood itself—it is how quickly people want to believe it,” he said. Apurba said their region, South and Southeast Asia, shares borders not just of land, but of language, culture and media flow. And in this shared space, he said, disinformation has become a regional dialect. Work Ahead Apurba said the interim government has placed disinformation within the framework of national security. Not because we fear speech, but because we fear silence born of confusion.” He said their strategy, drawn from the experts rests on five pillars: a National Fact-Check Coordination Unit — connecting local and regional verification bodies, free from political interference; Curriculum Reform — introducing fact-checking and digital literacy into journalism and civics education; Public Campaigns — using television, influencers, and community media to teach verification; a Legal Help Desk — supporting victims of online misinformation and harassment and a Volunteer Network of Digital First Responders — citizens trained to flag and counter falsehoods in real time. Apurba said these are not tools of censorship but they are tools of trust. He said everyone needs to bear some responsibility: those who produce misinformation (for a range of motivations including a click-based revenue model), those who consume and share unthinkingly, and importantly, those who own and run the platforms on which this plays out. Global Imperative “We cannot defend truth in isolation. As we modernize our economies, we must also modernize our information ecosystems,” he said, adding that Bangladesh seeks to work with their partners – India, China, Pakistan and Southeast Asian nations toward a shared regional database of verified claims; AI-assisted translation and detection tools in Bengali, Burmese, Hindi, and Malay; and a Regional Media Integrity Charter — a mutual pledge to factual reporting during elections and crises. Apurba said modernization, after all, is not only about roads and revenue, it is about the modernization of conscience. “When we speak of modernization, we picture infrastructure—bridges, ports, data centers. But the truest test of modernity is our ability to believe responsibly. To pause before sharing, to ask before assuming, to verify before reacting,” he said. As Bangladesh approaches its elections in February, Apurba said as the neighbors confront their own waves of falsehoods, “let us remember: securing truth is not a government project. It is a civic act, a regional act, a human act. If modernization is the road ahead, then truth is the ground beneath that road. And if that ground erodes, no bridge will stand for long.”  

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has underlined the importance of ‘deeper engagement’ between media of the two countries in shaping a ‘future-oriented, positive narrative’ of the Bangladesh-India partnership. He highlighted the important role of media as a bridge in connecting people, facilitating dialogue and promoting mutual understanding based on the shared history, culture and growth aspirations of the two countries. The High Commissioner made the remarks during an interaction with members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted at the High Commission on Sunday following their visit to India from October 4-10 as part of a special training programme arranged by the Government of India. Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe, DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun were, among others, present.  Bangladesh a good manufacturing hub for many global players: Indian businesses During the session, DCAB members spoke about their experiences from the visit to India and how it enhanced their understanding of developments in Bangladesh-India relations.  

Chief Adviser, Prof Muhammad Yunus has urged the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to establish a social business fund aimed at supporting young agricultural entrepreneurs, women, farmers and food processors in Bangladesh. Prof Yunus made the proposal during a meeting with IFAD President Alvaro Lario on the sidelines of the World Food Forum on Sunday. "I encourage you to create a social business fund,” said Prof Yunus, adding, “Such a fund would address social issues including healthcare for poor and promote entrepreneurship among youth, farmers, women, and those involved in the fishing industry.” During their meeting, the two leaders discussed a range of strategic issues, including support for launching Bangladesh’s deep-sea fishing industry, expanding exports of mangoes and jackfruit, promoting climate-resilient agricultural entrepreneurship and assisting buffalo farmers in producing dairy products such as mozzarella cheese. Prof Yunus invited the IFAD President to visit Bangladesh and send a team to explore potential opportunities for collaboration in agriculture, social business, and technology, said Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. In response, President Lario expressed IFAD’s keen interest in supporting social business initiatives and expanding collaboration with the private sector in Bangladesh. Social business now a global movement: Prof Yunus He noted that IFAD is currently funding more than half a dozen agricultural projects in the country. The Chief Adviser also emphasised Bangladesh’s need for technological support and investment in fruit processing, cold storage, warehousing, and large-scale exports of tropical fruits like mangoes and jackfruit. “We’ve begun exporting mangoes, but the volume is still small. China has expressed interest in importing big quantities of both mangoes and jackfruit from Bangladesh,” he added. Farida Akhter, Adviser on Fisheries and Livestock, also attended the meeting and highlighted how Bangladeshi women dairy farmers are producing mozzarella cheese from buffalo milk. She requested IFAD’s support to scale up cheese and other dairy production in the country. Dr Yunus urges Sweden to invest in social businesses instead of providing grants

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has said that the European Union (EU) remains one of Bangladesh’s largest trading partners and emphasized the significant potential for further expanding bilateral trade. He made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation led by EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller at the Secretariat on Sunday. The meeting focused on enhancing trade, investment, and overall economic cooperation between Bangladesh and the European Union. The adviser said that Bangladesh is keen to move forward with the implementation of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and, eventually, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)—based on feasibility studies and thorough analysis of trade data and opportunities. EU Ambassador Michael Miller said trade plays a vital role in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties. Acknowledging that the EU currently runs a trade deficit with Bangladesh, he noted that both sides have the opportunity to benefit by addressing existing challenges in trade and investment. The meeting was also attended by Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Spanish Ambassador Gabriel Sistiaga, Danish Ambassador Christian Brix Moller, and deputy heads of mission from the French, German, Italian, and Swedish embassies. Abu Said Belal, Trade Adviser of Bangladesh’s delegation to the EU, was also present.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus arrived in Rome on Sunday to join the annual World Food Forum, the flagship event of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy ATM Rokebul Haque received the Chief Adviser at Rome Fiumicino Airport upon his arrival at around around 5pm (local time), Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. The 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) began on October 10 and will run through October 17, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization at its headquarters. In addition to attending the WFF, the Chief Adviser is expected to have a number of high-profile meetings, including a meeting with FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told UNB. The theme for the week-long event is ‘Hand in Hand for better foods and a better future’, and it focuses on three pillars: Global Youth Action, Science and Innovation and Hand-In-Hand Investment.