United News of Bangladesh

The European Union (EU) has sought quick measures to remove non-tariff barriers (NTBs), promoting business confidence and ensuring non-discrimination. “We look for early measures to remove NTBs, promote business confidence and ensure non-discrimination,” said the EU Embassy on Wednesday. EU Ambassadors, led by Ambassador Michael Miller, called on Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and State Minister for Commerce Md Shariful Alam to discuss trade and investment opportunities. Bangladesh can count on the EU, its biggest market by far, to help it modernise and diversify the economy. Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of France Frederic Inza, who was present at the meeting, reaffirmed France’s commitment to strengthening partnership with Bangladesh. Frédéric Inza expressed France’s readiness to work with the new government to create a more conducive environment for European companies to invest. He also emphasised the importance of working together to ensure a level playing field and address future challenges through continued cooperation.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday called on Chinese investors to increase their presence in Bangladesh, highlighting the role of security and stability in attracting foreign capital. The request came during a meeting with China’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Minister Salahuddin described China as a major development partner and urged expansion of existing investments, citing Bangladesh’s strategic location and long-standing bilateral ties. Chinese envoy meets PM Tarique, reaffirms China’s support Ambassador Yao said Bangladesh’s politically stable government creates a favourable environment for investment. He said roughly 10,000 Chinese nationals are currently working across sectors in the country and emphasised that development and security are interlinked, urging enhanced law enforcement and public safety measures. Joining the ‘International Alliance Combating Telecom and Cyber Fraud’, an initiative by China’s Ministry of Public Security, by Bangladesh also came up at the meeting for discussions. India, China invite Bangladesh FM to pay official visits Minister Salahuddin instructed officials to review the expired 2023 memorandum on law enforcement training cooperation and indicated plans to visit China later this year. Discussions spanned security, cybercrime prevention, police training, and business expansion, reflecting both countries’ aim to deepen economic and strategic ties.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Abida Islam has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman envisions a nation built on economic and social inclusion, with the ambitious goal of transforming Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy. A cornerstone of this strategy is the ‘Family Card’ scheme, which she cited as a prime example of social inclusion designed to advance women’s rights. The High Commissioner emphasised that the government, led by Tarique Rahman, is firmly committed to upholding democracy, the rule of law and human rights through its vision for an inclusive nation. Speaking at a panel titled ‘Bangladesh Election: What Next?’, the High Commissioner explained that the ‘Bangladesh First’ policy focuses on maintaining friendly relations with all nations while strictly safeguarding Bangladesh’s sovereignty and national interests. She said the government is dedicated to implementing meaningful changes to improve the lives of all Bangladeshis, said the Bangladesh High Commission in London. The High Commissioner pointed out that on reforms there are many similarities between the BNP’s election manifesto and the July Charter. She described the country’s recent national parliamentary election as a definitive milestone in its democratic history. The discussion, organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), took place on Tuesday in a committee room of the British Parliament. Chaired and moderated by British MP Apsana Begum, the panel featured distinguished speakers, including Baroness Winterton, UK Trade Envoy for Bangladesh, Chietigj Bajpaee, Senior Research Fellow for South Asia at Chatham House; and Sohela Nazneen, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). The event was attended by prominent figures, including former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, MP Rupa Huq, as well as leading journalists and human rights activists. Baroness Winterton congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on his new role, affirming the UK’s eagerness to strengthen trade relations. Reflecting on her recent visit to the country, she said Bangladesh’s immense growth potential is best achieved within a stable democratic environment. Regarding the repatriation of assets allegedly laundered from Bangladesh to the UK, Baroness Winterton confirmed that the British government is providing active support on the matter. Given the political climate, Chietigj Bajpaee said, the BNP’s electoral victory was widely anticipated.  

Japan has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to pay an official visit at a mutually convenient time as Tokyo reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Dhaka. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Shinichi Saida, who met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, conveyed the invitation for the Prime Minister to visit Japan, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs; Humayun Kabir, Adviser to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Disaster Management and Relief, and Civil Aviation and Tourism; Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the Ministries of Education, Primary and Mass Education, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Labour and Employment; Dr Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment; and Asad Alam Siam, Foreign Secretary were, among others, present. During the meeting, Ambassador Saida congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on his assumption of office. The Ambassador said Japan will work with Bangladesh under the Strategic Partnership to further steadily deepen bilateral relations and collaborate to realise a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). They also exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including Japan’s development assistance, trade and investment, defence cooperation and other bilateral items. The two sides discussed cooperation under the Employment Skill Development Programme (ESDP), with particular focus on skills enhancement and Japanese language training for Bangladeshi workers aspiring to work in Japan. The Foreign Minister underscored the importance of improved access to information and proposed the development of a digital matchmaking platform to facilitate recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers by Japanese employers. Discussions were also held on defence procurement, metro rail cooperation and mutual support in international forums. Earlier in the day, the Japanese Ambassador paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam. Recalling Japan’s early recognition of Bangladesh, the State Minister reaffirmed her commitment to advancing Bangladesh-Japan relations and appreciated Japan’s continued support, including on the Rohingya issue.

Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has banned the import of poultry and table eggs from 40 countries including Bangladesh aimed at protecting public health and ensuring food safety in the kingdom. It also imposed partial restrictions on certain regions in 16 other countries, reports Gulf News. The authority said the list of affected countries is regularly reviewed in line with global health developments and epidemiological updates. According to the latest update, some bans have been in place since 2004, while others were introduced gradually over the years based on risk assessments and international reports on animal diseases, especially highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks. The full ban covers imports from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Djibouti, South Africa, China, Iraq, Ghana, Palestine, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, South Korea, North Korea, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Serbia, Slovenia, Côte d’Ivoire and Montenegro. Partial restrictions apply to certain states or cities in Australia, the United States, Italy, Belgium, Bhutan, Poland, Togo, Denmark, Romania, Zimbabwe, France, the Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, Austria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The SFDA clarified that the ban does not cover heat-treated poultry and related products, provided they meet approved health and safety standards. Such products must carry official certification confirming that they have been processed to eliminate avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses and come from approved facilities in the exporting country.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has said he looks forward to working closely with his newly appointed Bangladesh counterpart Dr Khalilur rahman to further enhance the bilateral relations in the years to come. “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,” he said in a message to FM Dr Rahman. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1973, the Korean Foreign Minister said the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh have fostered strong ties of friendship and cooperation in a wide range of fields. He conveyed best wishes for Dr Rahman’s continued good health and success, as well as the enduring prosperity of Bangladesh.

President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung has said he is confident that Bangladesh will continue to achieve sustained economic growth and social prosperity under the leadership of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. “Korea and Bangladesh have expanded cooperation in various fields, including education and investment, development cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, based on long-standing friendship and mutual trust,” said the South Korean President in a message to Prime Minister Tarique. President Lee said he looks forward to working with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to further strengthen the ties between the two countries. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to Tarique on his journey as the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, following his election with the strong support of the people of Bangladesh. “Please accept, Excellency, my best wishes for your success and for the continued prosperity of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,” according to the message shared by the South Korean Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday discussed ways to accelerate negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, infrastructure and Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. The issues were discussed when UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdulla Ali AlHmoudi paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and ‘growing strategic partnership’ between Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates. UAE-Bangladesh joint venture to invest $10m at BEPZA Economic Zone The Foreign Minister conveyed appreciation for the greetings from the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. He emphasised Bangladesh’s commitment, under the ‘Bangladesh First’ policy, to elevating bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic and economic partnership. The Foreign Minister appreciated the UAE for hosting around 1.2 million Bangladeshi expatriates and requested reopening of labour visas and facilitating greater mobility, including business and transit visas. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across sectors and enhancing people-to-people ties for mutual benefit. UAE rulers grant royal pardons to 440 Bangladeshi prisoners Earlier, the UAE Ambassador met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam. The State Minister stressed exchange of high-level visits and on holding regular meetings of existing bilateral platforms to identify opportunities and advance cooperation for mutual benefit.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has reaffirmed Bangladesh's unwavering support and commitment to revitalise SAARC process. The Minister expressed Bangladesh's readiness to take proactive initiatives to strengthen and revitalise SAARC. He made the remarks when Secretary General of SAARC Md. Golam Sarwar met him on Tuesday. Foreign Minister reiterated Bangladesh's conviction in abiding commitment to the principles enshrined in the SAARC Charter including sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual benefit of the peoples of member states. The Foreign Minister recalled that the idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first proposed by Bangladesh in the early 1980s by late President Ziaur Rahman to promote people's welfare, improve quality of life, and strengthen collective self- reliance in the region. Being one of the founder members and the host of the very first Summit of SAARC in December 1985 and twice in 1993 and 2005, Bangladesh acknowledges the valuable role of SAARC to foster common regional values and promote cooperation in key areas such as trade, investment, connectivity, climate change, food security, culture, people-to-people contacts and so forth, he said.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia early Wednesday, the first foreign trip since his appointment as the Foreign Minister. Humayun Kabir, Adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, will also be part of the visit. The Foreign Minister will attend a Foreign Ministers-level meeting in Jeddah to discuss the illegal Israeli occupation decisions aimed at promoting settlement, annexation and attempting to impose alleged Israeli sovereignty on the occupied West Bank. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold the emergency meeting of the Open-ended Executive Committee at the level of Foreign Ministers on Thursday at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, a senior official told UNB. The Foreign Minister and Adviser to the PM are likely to have bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the OIC meeting with their counterparts. The OIC meeting aims to coordinate positions and discuss ways of action to confront these invalid decisions and measures taken by the Israeli occupation authorities, the latest of which was the decision to start procedures to settle lands in the occupied West Bank under the name of ‘state property’, as part of its illegal schemes aimed at changing the legal, political and demographic status of the occupied Palestinian territory and undermining the two-state solution. Bangladesh described Saudi Arabia as a trusted and longstanding partner of Bangladesh and recalled that diplomatic relations between the two countries began during the presidency of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman with the establishment of Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia in 1976. President Zia also paid a historic visit to the Kingdom in 1977. Both sides acknowledged his historic contribution to promoting Muslim unity. Commonwealth Meeting The Foreign Minister will visit the United Kingdom to attend the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) which will take place at Lancaster House in London on March 8, a senior official told UNB. Representing the Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, the Minister of Finance of the Independent State of Samoa, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o, will welcome Foreign Affairs Ministers to the retreat and offer remarks. Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey will also speak at the event. This CFAMM is ‘significant’ as it will signal the start of Commonwealth Day activities, marked every year on the second Monday in March.  This 26th meeting will bring together Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers to address the role of the Commonwealth in a fast-changing international landscape; and explore impactful and transformative solutions to unlock opportunities together for shared prosperity across the Commonwealth, in the face of a fractured global climate. It is the first time that Foreign Ministers will come together within the platform of an executive retreat, which will provide a plan of action for a bold, practical Commonwealth. This will be Secretary-General Botchwey’s second meeting with Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers at CFAMM. Ministers will shape policy priorities leading up to the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be held in Antigua and Barbuda from 1-4 November 2026.