United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has highlighted the importance of regional economic cooperation but cited current tensions with India over actions taken by Bangladeshi students. "In the process, all of us benefit (regional economy) from that. So I said, we think about the regional economy. This is what we should be doing. We have problems with India right now because they didn't like what the students have done," he said during a conversation in New York. Asia Society and the Asia Society Policy Institute hosted the Chief Adviser for an address on Wednesday. It was moderated by Dr. Kyung-wha Kang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Asia Society. Prof Yunus introduced National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhter Hossen and first senior joint member secretary Dr Tasnim Jara to the audience. Prof Yunus said they (India) are hosting former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Hasina who created all these problems and killed the young people. "And that creates a lot of tension between India and Bangladesh. Also lots of fake news is coming from the other side. This is a very bad thing," Prof Yunus said. Prof Yunus flagged the fake news of the Islamist movement saying these are the Talibans and they have been trained. "They even said, I'm a Taliban too. I don't have a beard. I just left it home," he quipped. Talking about the regional economy, Prof Yunus said, "You have to go through Bangladesh. You can invest in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is going to invest in your territory. That's the whole idea of the SAARC." On SAARC, Prof Yunus said SAARC is a family of very close family members. He said the whole idea of SAARC was born in Bangladesh and Bangladesh is the one who promoted this idea, capital by capital in all the South Asian countries. Prof Yunus said they wanted to bring this together so that young people can get in touch with each other, all regions, not just one country, all the countries in South Asia. He said it is important that they can visit each other, make friendship with each other, study in universities, colleges, wherever they are, and do business in each other's countries. Prof Yunus said, "That was the whole idea. Our history gives us the opportunity to make that happen, but somehow it didn't fit into the politics of some one country, so we have to stop that. We feel very sorry for that. We want to make sure that we open it up and bring people together. That is the only way to solve our issues. " "Look, Bangladesh economy is defined by the boundaries of Bangladesh. But while we remain ourselves within the boundaries of Bangladesh, this is a very narrow way of looking at yourself," Prof Yunus  said.  "I said why don't you look at the neighbors, like Nepal, Bhutan, and also the seven states of India. In the eastern part of Bangladesh, there are seven states that don't have any access to the ocean. These are landlocked regions," he said. The current Chair of ASEAN is Malaysia and it is not easy to get everybody's yes right away, particularly Myanmar, which has a problem with the Rohingyas, Prof Yunus said. "So they may not come forward, but we'll work on it. We don't see this will begin permanent trouble between Myanmar and Bangladesh. We don't have to have that. So we have to resolve all these issues," he said, adding that the Rohingyas could go back to Myanmar, to their homes, businesses and their professions. Prof Yunus said they will have a good relationship with Myanmar. "Having this kind of conflict with each other doesn't help anybody. So, we have to resolve that." He said Bangladesh can become an informal member of ASEAN and there is a provision there. "We can do that. ASEAN would be a good place to go and you can build it up with regional harmony and regional interconnectivity," he said. In a separate meeting, the Chief Adviser said trials of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cronies are a top priority of his government. During a meeting with the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, on the sidelines of the UNGA on Wednesday (New York time), Prof Yunus stressed that the trials were being conducted in accordance with international legal standards. “Despite facing trial, she continues to make incendiary and destabilising remarks,” Prof Yunus said, adding that the interim government has sought her extradition to face justice. The President of Finland met with Chief Adviser Prof Yunus on Wednesday. Hilsa export to India begins; 1,200mt approved for Durga Puja During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh, United Nations reform, the Rohingya crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war, Bangladesh’s bid to join ASEAN, the trials of Sheikh Hasina and her associates, and the country's efforts to access hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan. High Commissioner Verma hosts reception for BD women cricketers giving ‘taste of India’ Prof Yunus expressed gratitude to the international community for its continued support of the interim government since it assumed office in August last year. “International support for our government over the past 14 months has been overwhelming,” he said. High Commissioner Verma hosts reception for BD women cricketers giving ‘taste of India’ He reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to holding free, fair, and credible elections in February, allowing the country’s 126 million voters to cast their ballots peacefully and in a festive atmosphere. Bangladesh delegation participates in BIMSTEC Young Leaders’ Summit in India “Our people have been deprived of a free and fair election for the past 15 years. Now, they are eagerly looking forward to February,” the Chief Adviser added. Prof Yunus told President Stubb that major political and institutional reforms were underway in Bangladesh. India expelling Rohingyas to Bangladesh, Myanmar without protections: HRW He noted that political parties are expected to sign the July Charter, a framework for deeper political reform.

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has proposed the signing of several trade and economic agreements with Bangladesh to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. During a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, she specifically recommended a bilateral agreement in the textile sector, citing significant potential for collaboration and mutual benefit. The President met the Chief Adviser on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. The meeting, held at a New York hotel, covered a range of issues of mutual interest, including migration, trade, commerce and people-to-people exchanges, said Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. President Osmani expressed her gratitude to Bangladesh for its early and continued support for Kosovo, noting that Bangladesh was among the first countries to recognize the Southeast European nation. She highlighted Kosovo's recent economic progress, stating that the country has recorded the highest GDP growth in the region for the second consecutive year. Trial of Hasina, her cronies a top priority: Prof Yunus tells Finnish President   Kosovo, she said, has successfully rebuilt its economy in the aftermath of a genocidal war and now ranks among the safest countries in Europe in terms of security and the rule of law.

With the Rohingya crisis entering its eighth year amid a severe funding shortfall, advocacy groups on Thursday urged the international community and aid agencies to prioritise low-cost, locally-led operations in the Rohingya response. The event, titled “Reset Rohingya Response: Engage Local NGOs for Low-Cost Management”, was organised by COAST Foundation and the Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum ahead of the UN Rohingya Conference scheduled for September 30 in New York. Moderated by Mustafa Kamal Akanda and chaired by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST Foundation, the groups unveiled a study on the localisation of aid in the Rohingya response. The study, presented by Shahinur Islam, highlighted a sharp disparity in funding flows and project approvals between international, national, and local NGOs, according to a press release. According to the findings, from June to August 2025, 63 projects were approved in Rohingya camps. Of these, international NGOs secured a 44.4% approval rate, national NGOs 50.8%, while local NGOs received only 4.8%. In terms of funding, INGOs received 63.6%, national NGOs 33.9%, and local NGOs just 2.5%—despite being among the largest implementers. The study also pointed out that management costs of UN agencies and INGOs consume around 70% of funds, leaving only 30% for actual programs, while local NGOs can deliver operations at significantly lower costs. Speakers criticised the World Bank’s loan support to Bangladesh for Rohingya management, saying it contradicts humanitarian principles and burdens the country. Bangladesh has already increased its own funding by 263% this year compared to 2024, much of it financed by loans, the study noted. Rezaul Karim said the aid system needs a reset, where UN agencies and INGOs play monitoring and technical support roles while local NGOs take the lead in designing and implementing low-cost operations. Other speakers warned that the Rohingya population now outnumbers the host community in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas, raising tensions and security concerns. They stressed that Rohingyas should not be confined to dependency but rather engaged as human resources, with opportunities to connect to global markets and sustainable livelihoods. The organisers urged world leaders, ahead of the UN Rohingya Conference, to ensure a shift toward locally-led, cost-effective responses that uphold humanitarian principles while easing the financial burden on Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said the trials of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cronies are a top priority of his government. During a meeting with the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, on the sidelines of the UNGA, Prof Yunus stressed that the trials were being conducted in accordance with international legal standards. “Despite facing trial, she continues to make incendiary and destabilising remarks,” Prof Yunus said, adding that the interim government has sought her extradition to face justice. The Finnish President met Chief Adviser Prof Yunus on Wednesday. Bangladesh-Italy’s economic ties in focus as Meloni mulls Dhaka visit

Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin and Pakistan Prime Minister’s Trade Coordinator Ihsaan Afzal Khan on Thursday discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment, strengthen economic cooperation, and take commercial relations to a new level. The meeting was held at the adviser’s office in the Secretariat in the morning. Adviser Bashir Uddin said Bangladesh’s cement industry heavily relies on imported raw materials particularly limestone and construction-grade stone. Bangladesh needs around 50 million tons of stone annually and for this greater engagement between businesses of both countries is necessary, he said. He said improving labour productivity, utility proportion, logistics excellence, cost of finance and market access can help expand the limited trade basket between the two countries. This will reduce the trade deficit and strengthen people-to-people ties, he added. Pakistan seeks stronger economic ties as PM invites Prof Yunus He stressed the need for creating greater opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters in the Pakistani market. Pakistan PM’s Trade Coordinator Ihsaan Afzal emphasised the importance of removing existing barriers to trade and expanding facilities. “We want to significantly increase trade volume by strengthening direct contacts between business communities, exchanging trade missions and reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers,” he said. Mahbubur Rahman, secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Ayesha Akter, additional secretary (FTA) were, among others present at the meeting.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has invited Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to visit Pakistan before the conclusion of the interim government's tenure as the two leaders held a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters on Wednesday. They discussed ways to deepen economic relations between the two countries by expanding the existing bilateral trade, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the meeting. During their meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including Bangladesh's upcoming general elections, reforms introduced by the interim government, the recent devastating floods in Pakistan, trade and investment, and prospects for regional cooperation, Alam said. Prof Yunus shared that Bangladesh is on course to hold its general election in February and expressed hope that the major political reforms proposed by 11 national commissions would lead to meaningful political transformation. He noted that talks between the National Consensus Commission and political parties are in their final stages, and parties are expected to sign a ‘July Charter’ encompassing key constitutional and political reforms. "These reforms are aimed at preventing the rise of another autocrat in Bangladesh," Prof Yunus said. With SAARC largely inactive in recent years, the two leaders also discussed alternative avenues to enhance regional cooperation. The Chief Adviser Yunus expressed his profound sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences over the recent floods in Pakistan, which claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people. Prime Minister Sharif attributed the increasing frequency and intensity of such disasters to the worsening impacts of climate change. In August this year, Bangladesh and Pakistan reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of their peoples. Bangladesh emphasised the importance of deepening collaborative bilateral relations founded on mutual respect, understanding and shared interests. National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Principal Secretary Siraj Uddin Miah, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed were present at the meeting.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has introduced six political leaders accompanying him at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with top US companies, encouraging them to expand investments in Bangladesh. “It was a big meeting. Prof Yunus spoke and called upon US companies to invest more in Bangladesh,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the event. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad were also present. The US-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC) hosted the roundtable discussion titled “US-Bangladesh Executive Business Roundtable: Advancing Reform, Resilience and Growth” at a New York hotel on Wednesday. Senior executives from leading US companies and major investors in Bangladesh, including MetLife, Chevron and Excelerate Energy, attended the meeting. UN budget cuts, shrinking ODA to be 'counterproductive' for Bangladesh: Prof Yunus Bangladesh’s political delegation included BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Jamaat leader Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, and NCP First Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr Tasnim Jara. Prof Yunus introduced the political leaders with the US businesses and highlighted that a new political government will be formed through a fair election scheduled for February next year. “Prof Yunus introduced them with the US business community so that they could get to know each other better,” said Press Secretary Alam. Talking to reporters, Jamaat leader Taher praised the initiative and said US investors expressed encouragement. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, and leaders of the USBBC were present.

President of the Club de Madrid and former President of Slovenia, Danilo Türk, met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in New York on Wednesday. During their meeting at his hotel, Danilo Türk extended an invitation to Prof Yunus to become a member of the organisation, said  Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.  He commended Prof Yunus’ pioneering work in microcredit,  mentioning its global impact. “We would be honoured to have you participate in our events. We would also greatly appreciate your insights into the democratic transformation currently underway in Bangladesh," he said. Referring to the recent July Uprising in Bangladesh, Türk remarked that the movement had astonished the world and emphasised the importance for global leaders to better understand such transformations. Bangladesh, Italy eye expanded economic ties, PM Meloni likely to visit Dhaka in Dec  He also expressed his support for the interim government led by Prof Yunus and its efforts to foster inclusive democratic practices. The Chief Adviser welcomed the invitation, expressing his willingness to share Bangladesh’s ongoing experiences with democratic reform.  “We are still walking through the jungle, figuring out how to lead the country toward a democratic transformation. Our focus remains firmly on this path,” he said.  Club de Madrid is the world’s largest forum of democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers, who leverage their individual and collective leadership experience and global reach to strengthen inclusive democratic practice and improve the well-being of people around the world.  SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.   

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit Bangladesh in December this year as the two countries eye an expanded economic cooperation with stronger collaboration to ensure safe migration. She proposed the establishment of an Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum aimed at promoting Italian investment in Bangladesh. The Italian Prime Minister met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday afternoon (NY time) and discussed issues of mutual interest. "The Italian Prime Minister expects that she will come to Bangladesh in December," Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the meeting. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad were present at the briefing. The leaders also discussed a wide range of issues, including the upcoming general election in Bangladesh, migration challenges, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and a possible visit by Prime Minister Meloni to Bangladesh in December. Prof Yunus introduces political leaders with top US companies The meeting between the Chief Adviser and Italian Prime Minister provided an opportunity to discuss the "safe migration" issues to combat irregular migration flows. "There was a discussion with the Italian Prime Minister about safe migration. You know, a lot of people are lured from Bangladesh (human trafficking). In many cases it turns into a tragedy. As you have seen, many Bangladeshis have died in the Mediterranean," Alam said, adding that there was a discussion about how to ensure safe migration. During the meeting, Prime Minister Meloni expressed support for the ongoing democratic transition process and reform programme in Bangladesh, underscoring Italy’s intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic sphere. The two leaders also had an in-depth exchange of views on migration issues, agreeing on the importance of intensifying efforts to fight irregular immigration and combat criminal human trafficking networks. They particularly discussed ways to establish closer cooperation on returns and to support legal migration flows, for example through vocational training programmes in Bangladesh for workers specialised in sectors that are in demand from Italy’s productive system. Commerce adviser, Pakistan PM’s trade coordinator discuss boosting bilateral ties Prime Minister Meloni expressed Italy’s willingness to engage constructively with Dhaka to ensure safe migration pathways that would benefit both nations. She underscored the need for stronger measures to combat human trafficking, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of migrants in the Mediterranean. In response, Chief Adviser Yunus stated that the Bangladeshi interim government has already adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward human trafficking and has implemented several initiatives to ensure safer migration routes for Bangladeshi citizens. "We need more global efforts to prevent human smuggling," Professor Yunus emphasised. When Prof Yunus highlighted the importance of further expanding trade relations between the two countries, the Italian Prime Minister proposed for Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum. Prof Yunus welcomed the initiative, noting that while the two countries share longstanding ties, there remains significant potential to expand trade and investment cooperation. Investment opportunities in Bangladesh better than ever: Commerce Adviser Addressing the political transition in Bangladesh, Professor Yunus said the country is on track to hold general elections in February, after which he plans to return to his previous role. Prime Minister Meloni commended Prof Yunus’ leadership over the past 14 months as the head of the interim government and assured him that Italy would advocate within the European Union to support Bangladesh in holding a free and fair election. The two leaders also exchanged views on the ongoing Rohingya crisis. Prof Yunus urged increased international support for over one million Rohingya refugees currently sheltered in Bangladesh. In response, Prime Minister Meloni pledged to send a high-level delegation to next week’s international conference on the crisis at UN headquarters. Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed were also present at the meeting. The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, visited New York from September 23 to 24 to attend the 80th United Nations General Assembly. Prof Yunus calls for smarter financing to close $4 trillion SDG gap with five priorities She had bilateral meetings with the President of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, and with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña Palacios, and later held a press point. In May this year, Bangladesh and Italy agreed to enhance cooperation in combating transnational organised crimes, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling as well as terrorism and cybercrime. The two countries emphasised the importance of capacity-building, continued information and intelligence sharing and joint training to strengthen security frameworks in both nations. Both sides agreed to make arrangements towards establishing a 'joint committee' to promote cooperation in preventing and combating transnational organised crime and capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement agencies, according to a joint statement issued after the official visit of Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi to Bangladesh on May 5-6.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus continued to engage extensively with global leaders with diverse meetings during the ongping 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), highlighting Bangladesh’s vision for inclusive growth, sustainable development and global solidarity. During his engagements on the sidelines of the UNGA, the urgency of addressing pressing global challenges, from climate change to poverty alleviation, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing funding gaps, while also bringing the Rohingya situation to the global attention and advocating for human dignity and peace came up in a big way. Prof Yunus calls for smarter financing to close $4 trillion SDG gap with five priorities His presence at the UNGA offered an opportunity to amplify Bangladesh’s voice on the international stage and to emphasise the importance of collaborative, people-centered solutions, officials told UNB. He attended the opening segment of an event titled 'First Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy: Implementing Commitments on Financing the Sustainable Development Goals' in UN headquarters on Wednesday. Prof Yunus held a meeting with President of Finland Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of the UNGA, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. The Chief Adviser also held a seperate meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a hotel in New York same day. UN budget cuts, shrinking ODA to be 'counterproductive' for Bangladesh: Prof Yunus Prof Yunus attended a high-level working session titled 'Transforming Primary Healthcare-Bangladesh’s Blueprint' on the sidelines. The Chief Adviser invited US President Donald Trump to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time during a reception hosted by the President in New York on Tuesday. Prof Yunus attended the event at the invitation of President Trump, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The Chief Adviser also met UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the reception hosted by US president Donald Trump.