United News of Bangladesh

Direction Technology (Bangladesh) Co. Limited, a Chinese company, has signed an investment agreement with the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) to establish a manufacturing plant in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ). The new facility will produce  bluetooth headphones, wired headphones, and data cables. This investment, worth US$3 million, is expected to diversify Bangladesh's export basket beyond its traditional apparel and textile industries and add a new dimension to technology-based manufacturing in the EPZ. The project is expected create employment opportunities for 478 Bangladeshi nationals, said a press release. Workers at CEPZ block road over unpaid wages, Eid bonuses Md. Ashraful Kabir, Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA, and Li Fanfan, Managing Director of Direction Technology (Bangladesh) Co. Limited signed in the document on behalf of the respective sides in presence of Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, Executive Chairman of BEPZA. The company's focus on headphones and data cables underscores Bangladesh's shift toward higher-value, technology-oriented manufacturing, complementing the country's expanding electronics sector. Welcoming the company, the Executive Chairman of BEPZA said that while Bangladesh is known for its apparel industry, BEPZA is equally committed to diversifying its export portfolio. The signing ceremony was attended by other senior officials from BEPZA and representatives from Direction Technology.

Members of the Bangladesh national football team, along with a small group of Bangladeshi nationals stranded in Nepal, returned home on Thursday afternoon by a special aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a total of 55 passengers were on board -- 38 football team members, coaches, team officials and delegates, 16 sports journalists, and one student coordinator. A diplomat at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu told UNB, around 400 Bangladesh nationals, altogether, left Kathmandu on Thursday by two flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the special aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force. On September 3, the Bangladesh national football team departed for Nepal to participate in two 'FIFA Tier 1 International Friendly Matches' against the Nepal national football team. Meanwhile, the car of Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Md Shafiqur Rahman was vandalized during the recent chaotic situation in Kathmandu. Despite the flag being shown, one of the groups blocked the car and vandalized it although other groups facilitated the movement of the car later seeing Bangladesh’s flag, a diplomat at the embassy told UNB. “The Ambassador was not inside the car at that time. The Deputy Head of Mission was moving with other staff to the hotel to escort them to the airport at that time,” he said, adding that the football team management was hurrying for the flight at that time and they had to respond. Meanwhile, a Bangladeshi family was physically assaulted and looted amid the chaotic situation in Nepal when the protesters vandalised a five-star hotel on Tuesday. The frightened family was kept at the Ambassador's residence on Wednesday.

A delegation of five Human Rights subcommittee Members will visit Bangladesh from September 16 to 18 to discuss the human rights dimension of the relations between Bangladesh and the European Union (EU). Against the backdrop of the upcoming elections in February 2026 and of the strengthening of EU-Bangladesh relations, the European Parliament delegation is visiting the country to "learn more about the work" of the interim government in promoting good governance and advancing human rights, including international labour standards, and to discuss the EU-Bangladesh partnership in these areas. The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will visit the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights Mounir Satouri will lead the delegation. Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Urmas Paet and Catarina Vieira are the members of the delegation. Only peace, dialogue can bring stability to a nation: Cardinal Koovakad They will hold meetings with representatives of the interim government, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, labour representatives and representatives of multilateral organisations operating on the ground. Since the violent crackdown on the mass protest movement of 2024 and the subsequent downfall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is undergoing a period of political transition under an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, said the EU Embassy in Dhaka. The interim authorities launched a reform process in autumn 2024, including the country’s electoral system, judiciary and other key institutions. Bangladesh and the EU have furthermore resumed negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). Bangladesh is currently under an Everything but Arms (EBA) enhanced engagement  process with the EU, which includes a systematic approach to addressing concerns with regard to fundamental human rights as well as labour rights. Bangladesh hosts over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees who fled to escape persecution following the Myanmar military crackdown against the minority in 2017. The situation in the refugee camps in Bangladesh is dire, with overcrowding, limited resources, and ongoing humanitarian challenges. The delegation will meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Consensus Commission Vice Chair Prof Ali Riaz, representatives of the Bangladesh

Members of the Bangladesh national football team, along with a small group of Bangladeshi nationals stranded in Nepal, are scheduled to return home on Thursday by a special aircraft. A total of 54 passengers, including 38 football team members, around a dozen journalists, and others, will be on board, a diplomat at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu told UNB on Wednesday night. The special aircraft, a C-130, is expected to leave Dhaka for Kathmandu at 10:30am, a senior official said. The Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu is in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Biman Bangladesh Airlines to arrange for a Dreamliner flight in addition to Biman’s regular afternoon flight from Kathmandu to Dhaka on Thursday, another embassy official told UNB. If the plan is executed with the necessary permissions, he said, most of the Bangladeshis stranded in Nepal will be able to return home quickly. The Bangladesh national football team travelled to Nepal on September 3 to play two friendly matches ahead of the Asian Cup qualifiers. The first match against hosts Nepal on September 6 ended in a goalless draw. The second match, scheduled for Tuesday, was disrupted. Officials in Dhaka and at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu confirmed that all Bangladeshis in Nepal, including the football team, are safe. Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) resumed operations at 6 pm on Wednesday after being shut down for several hours due to violent anti-government protests. TIA authorities advised passengers to contact their respective airlines for re-confirmation of flights. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said Bangladeshis stranded in Nepal cannot return through India as they do not have Indian visas. He said protesters had entered the hotel searching for their politicians but respectfully left when they saw the Bangladesh football team there. “They have no hostility towards us. So, I don’t think there will be any crisis. Our embassy is in constant contact with them. We hope everyone will return safely,” Hossain told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All Bangladeshi nationals currently in Nepal have been strongly advised to remain indoors at their hotels or residences. Similarly, Bangladeshi nationals planning to travel to Nepal have been advised to postpone their trips due to the ongoing security situation until further notice. Approximately 100 Bangladeshi nationals, including government officials and football players on official visits, are currently stranded in Kathmandu. Govt trying to ensure safe return of football team from Nepal In addition, around 500 Bangladeshi passengers of Biman Bangladesh Airlines are still in Nepal. The number of Bangladeshi tourists in Nepal for private visits has not yet been confirmed. According to the Bangladesh Embassy, its hotlines have received over 350 inquiries from Bangladeshi citizens stranded in Nepal, with most callers seeking updates on Biman flight schedules, delays, and rescheduling.

Head of the Vatican's Department of Interreligious Dialogue Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad on Wednesday urged political and religious leaders to embrace dialogue as the only effective path toward resolving conflicts and ensuring long-term stability. “Only peace and dialogue can bring stability to a nation,” Cardinal Koovakad said while engaging with the media regarding the outcomes of the visit and the ongoing dialogue between Bangladesh and the Vatican. Vatican Ambassador to Bangladesh Archbishop Kevin Randall and prominent Christian religious leaders from across the country were present. He, along with his delegation, is currently paying an official visit to Bangladesh (September 6–11, 2025). During the visit, they have met with the Chief Justice and participated in several seminars and conferences promoting interfaith understanding. “From past experiences, we must be more convinced and more open to talk among ourselves—especially political leaders and religious leaders. We have to influence each other to find common ground and always create space for dialogue,” Cardinal Koovakad said. He warned that conflicts, whether in Bangladesh or elsewhere, cannot be resolved through violence. “With conflict, we will arrive nowhere. With violence, we will not reach anywhere,” he said, stressing that religious leaders must also play a role in spreading the message of unity and reconciliation. The Cardinal expressed appreciation for the hospitality he received in Bangladesh and praised the country’s rich cultural heritage. “I felt a fresh welcome, full of respect. Bangladesh’s culture is beautiful, marked by justice and openness. The willingness to share experiences and exchange ideas here is remarkable.” During his visit, the Cardinal and his delegation held discussions at the Islamic Foundation and visited the National Monument, experiences that he said helped strengthen understanding and cooperation. These exchanges, he added, opened avenues for collaboration in education, health, and social welfare. Speaking at an interfaith programme in Dhaka, the Cardinal emphasised that violence cannot deliver peace, but open and sincere dialogue can.    

Bangladeshis, including the football team members, who are stuck in Nepal, are safe, said the officials in Dhaka and Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu. They will start returning home once the flight operations on the Dhaka-Kathmandu route get normal, they said. Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) resumed services at 6 pm on Wednesday, hours after closing its operations due to violent anti-government protests. The TIA management asked passengers to contact their respective airlines for re-confirmation of their flights. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said Bangladeshis, stuck in Nepal, cannot be brought back through India because they do not have Indian visas. He noticed one good thing that the protesters went to the hotel to look for their politicians but they respectfully left when they saw the Bangladesh football team there. “They have no bad feelings towards us. So, I don’t think there will be any crisis. Our embassy is in constant contact with them. We hope everyone will be able to come back safely,” Hossain told a small group of reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As a longstanding friend and neighbour of Nepal, Bangladesh on Tuesday said it remains confident in the ability of the resilient people of Nepal to restore peace and ensure stability. “Bangladesh hopes that all sides will exercise maximum restraint and engage in peaceful and constructive dialogue to resolve any differences,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. The government of Bangladesh is ‘closely observing’ the situation in Nepal and expressed its sincere condolences over the tragic loss of lives. Bangladesh also extended its sincere sympathies to the families of the deceased, and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured. Meanwhile, all Bangladeshi nationals currently living or stuck in Nepal have strongly been advised not to move outside and stay at their respective places or hotels. The Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu issued an urgent notice on Tuesday following the current situation in Nepal. All Bangladeshi nationals-inbound passengers to Nepal have also been advised not to fly to Nepal due to prevailing security situations. A 36-member national football team and a 51-member delegation from the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Mirpur, who came to Nepal as part of their overseas study tour, are stuck in Kathmandu. Their daily programmes are cancelled and they are scheduled to fly back to Dhaka on September 12, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Tuesday. The delegation is making daily assessments of the situation regarding their movement. Bangladesh’s Embassy is fully in touch with them through their local coordinator. Nepal deploys Army amid worsening protest violence Biman Bangladesh Airlines passengers, who are looking for flight-related information or updates for the Kathmandu-Dhaka route, have been requested to contact through the following numbers of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Kathmandu Office Country Manager: +9779851037510, Station Manager: +977 9851026159 and Sales: +977 9847918402.    

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has reiterated Bangladesh’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine and reaffirmed support for a two-State solution based on pre-1967 borders. He also stressed the urgency of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, accountability for the atrocities committed by Israel, and the need for lasting peace in the region. The Adviser made the remarks when Chief Justice of Palestine Dr Mahmoud Sidqi Al-Habbash met with at State guesthouse Padma on Tuesday. Bangladesh has been a great support to Palestine: Ambassador The Chief Justice of Palestine expressed deep gratitude to the leadership and people of Bangladesh for their steadfast support to the Palestinian cause and underscored the importance of greater unity within the Muslim Ummah on this issue. Dr Al-Habbash is visiting Bangladesh on a three-day official trip at the invitation of the Chief Justice of Bangladesh.

Director for Migration and Asylum at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs Michael Shotter on Wednesday commended Bangladesh’s proactive stance and collaborative efforts in addressing irregular migration. He stressed the need for sustaining the ongoing implementation of the ‘Returnee Case Management System’. Shotter met Secretary (Bilateral), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Md Nazrul Islam at the latter’s office ahead of the 3rd Bangladesh-EU migration and mobility dialogue. Welcoming Shotter, Dr Islam commended the EU’s continued engagement with Bangladesh in fostering cooperation in the field of migration and mobility. Shotter briefed the Secretary on the outcomes of the 9th joint working group meeting on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the identification and return of persons without authorisation to stay as well as the 3rd ‘Talent Partnership’ roundtable, both held on September 9. Dr Islam placed strong emphasis on regular and skills-based migration as one of the important pillars of Bangladesh’s engagement with the EU, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He reiterated Bangladesh’s call for the expansion of legal migration pathways for aspiring migrants, including through structured initiatives such as the EU Talent Partnership, as an effective measure to counter irregular migration flows. Dr Islam also urged the European Commission to encourage more EU Member States to participate in the Talent Partnership scheme. Highlighting that over half of Bangladesh’s population is under the age of 30, Dr Islam underlined Bangladesh’s potential to be a reliable partner in addressing Europe’s evolving labour market needs by supplying a steady stream of skilled and semi-skilled workers through safe and orderly migration channels. The Secretary stressed the importance of training and certification for prospective migrants, citing successful models from South Korea and Singapore. He proposed exploring similar EU-funded training initiatives in collaboration with Bangladeshi institutions such as training centres under Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and Technical Training Centers (TTC) under the Directorate of Technical Education to ensure alignment with EU labour market standards. EU Commission President proposes sanctions, trade restrictions on Israel over Gaza conflict The Secretary also expressed satisfaction with the current status of negotiations on the Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Bangladesh and the EU, underscoring migration as a pivotal area of cooperation within the framework. Shotter is leading the EU delegation to the Bangladesh-EU migration and mobility dialogue, taking place in Dhaka from September 8-10.

The interim government on Wednesday said some of the principles of the China-proposed Global Governance Initiative (CGI) are ‘consistent’ with Bangladesh's policy. "Some of the principles of CGI are consistent with Bangladesh's policy. For example, Bangladesh upholds the principle of sovereign equality in the conduct of its bilateral relations with other countries," said the Chief Adviser’s spokesperson when asked about Bangladesh's position on the recent proposal by Chinese President Xi Jinping of the GGI. "Our commitment to this principle will endure in the future", he added. The principles of multilateralism and international rule of law, including the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter critically inform Bangladesh's foreign policy, the spokesperson said. Besides, he said, the interim government has been pursuing a people-centered approach in order to ensure democratic governance and real results for our people. China-backed ‘Robotic Rehabilitation Centre’ at BMU going to be ‘game-changer’ "We will continue to adhere to these principles in the design and conduct of our policies taking into account our particular needs and circumstances", the spokesperson added.

Ms. Anja Kersten, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dhaka, visited the manufacturing plant of ‘AMANN Bangladesh Limited’, a key part of the AMANN Group Germany. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Kersten praised AMANN's efforts in strengthening economic ties between Germany and Bangladesh.  She stressed the importance of further cooperation in sustainable manufacturing and innovation. Md. Rokonuzzaman, FCA, the country managing director of AMANN Bangladesh Ltd. and a Director of the Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BGCCI), along with the senior executives, extended a warm welcome to Kersten and her delegation, according to a press release. Rokonuzzaman expressed his satisfaction to Ms. Kersten, noting that her visit "reflects the trust and partnership between Germany and Bangladesh."  “We are committed to driving innovation, sustainability, and excellence to support both our global network and the future of Bangladesh's textile industry.” During her visit,  Kersten was given a tour of the company's advanced production facilities. She received a briefing on AMANN's journey in Bangladesh, which began in 2013 as a joint venture with the Standard Group.  The visit also emphasised AMANN's alignment with German values of innovation, quality, and responsibility.  Germany's economy grew by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. That's double the initial estimate AMANN Bangladesh has consistently invested in sustainable practices, including energy-efficient operations, resource optimisation, and community development initiatives, solidifying its role as a responsible partner in Bangladesh's industrial growth. AMANN Group, founded in 1854, is a global leader in premium sewing and embroidery threads and smart yarns. AMANN Bangladesh Ltd. continues to be a vital part of this global network, contributing to both Bangladesh’s industrial progress and the group's worldwide reputation for excellence.