United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has called for enhanced global efforts to ensure information integrity, combat misinformation and promote inclusive communication at the 48th session of the Committee on Information at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Addressing the general debate of the committee that takes place annually at the UN headquarters and deals with global communication, public information, and outreach efforts, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury on Monday highlighted the growing challenges posed by misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and the misuse of artificial intelligence and digital platforms, which are fueling divisions and eroding trust acrosssocieties. He stressed the need for responsible use of information and communication technologies as well as for bridging the digital divide both between and within countries. Highlighting Bangladesh’s contributions to UN peacekeeping including the deployment of women peacekeepers, the Permanent Representative called for continued efforts to counter anti-peacekeeping narratives and to promote accountability and environmental responsibility. Ambassador Chowdhury also drew attention to disinformation-driven crises, including the Rohingya situation in Myanmar and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling for accurate information dissemination and increased global awareness. He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s strong commitment to strengthening global communication efforts in line with the principles and values of the United Nations.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has extended an invitation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the King and the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to visit Bangladesh at their convenience. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir on Monday met the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Eng. Waleed Abdulkareem El Khureiji in Riyadh and conveyed the invitation, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, Adviser Kobir, as a special envoy of the Prime Minister, handed over a message of solidarity from the Prime Minister addressed to Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia. The Adviser underscored that the government and people of Bangladesh stand firmly with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this critical period in the Middle East. He also expressed Bangladesh’s keen interest in further strengthening and diversifying bilateral relations by exploring new avenues of cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy and energy. The Saudi Vice Minister warmly welcomed Adviser Kobir and expressed his government’s appreciation for Bangladesh’s support during this critical time in the region.

Bangladesh and France on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the mutually beneficial partnership. Both sides underscored the importance of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) to enhance bilateral trade. Director for Asia and Oceania at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Benoît Guidée paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed the issues. They discussed avenues for strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, supply chain, energy, space, defence, development cooperation, culture, education and skills development, migration, people-to-people exchange, and peace and security. Benoît Guidée, accompanied by David Peneau, Head of the South Asia Division, concluded a two-day official visit to Bangladesh on Monday, an official told UNB. The State Minister and the Director discussed strengthening political collaboration in both bilateral and multilateral settings, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She sought France’s support for Bangladesh’s candidacy for the Presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the term 2026-2027. The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues, underscoring the importance of peace, stability, and enhanced international cooperation.

Bangladesh and Switzerland will hold the 6th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Dhaka on June 1, eyeing to boost the bilateral relations to a greater extent. Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday and discussed the issues of mutual interest. The State Minister acknowledged Switzerland’s longstanding development cooperation and its continued support for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh. The discussions also covered avenues for expanding cooperation in priority areas including trade and investment, pharmaceuticals, skills development, education, culture and sports, women empowerment and people-to-people contacts, said the Ministry. The Ambassador congratulated the State Minister on her assumption of office and expressed optimism that Bangladesh-Switzerland relations would be further strengthened in the coming years.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday appreciated the European Union’s continued engagement in supporting Bangladesh’s democratic journey, including the deployment of the Election Observer Mission. She highlighted the importance of continued cooperation with international partners to further strengthen democratic institutions and processes. The issues were discussed when Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Ivars Ijabs met the State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh seeks UNDP’s help in tackling misinformation, disinformation He formally handed over a copy of the final report of the 2026 parliamentary elections, said the ministry. The chief observer is scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday at a city hotel. On Sunday, he shared a final report with Bangladesh, including recommendations for improving future elections. Ivars Ijabs met Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, and presented the mission’s final report and recommendations. The final report is based on a long-term, independent observation of the electoral process across all 64 districts of Bangladesh, while the 19 recommendations offered by the EU EOM aim at reinforcing the integrity of future elections, officials told UNB. The chief observer expressed hope that those recommendations will be considered by all relevant stakeholders, including Bangladesh Parliament. He along with Head of EU Delegation to Bangladesh Ambassador Michael Miller and the Speaker of the Parliament also discussed the new avenues for cooperation between the EU and Bangladesh that has opened and the support the EU is ready to offer in the implementation of these recommendations. Ivars Ijabs also discussed with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin key recommendations on Sunday. The mission’s final report and recommendations aim to contribute to improving future electoral processes and upholding the international commitments which Bangladesh has adopted. Next steps towards the implementation of these recommendations were discussed, and it was stressed that the EU stands ready to support such efforts, officials told UNB. The EU EOM has been present in Bangladesh since the end of 2025 and on election day - February 12. It is comprised of 223 international observers, drawn from all EU Member States, as well as Canada, Norway and Switzerland, deployed across all 64 administrative districts. The EU EOM presented the mission's preliminary statement on the February 12 parliamentary elections on February 14. The 2026 parliamentary elections were described as "credible and competently managed, marking a pivotal step" towards restoring democratic governance and rule of law. "This historic contest was genuinely competitive, with fundamental freedoms broadly respected. The electoral legal framework largely accords with international standards, while the Bangladesh Election Commission worked independently and transparently, maintaining the confidence of stakeholders and lending integrity to the polls,” said chief observer Ivars Ijabs.

India has appointed Dinesh Trivedi as the next High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Monday announced the appointment, noting that he is expected to take up the assignment shortly. The 75-year-old veteran politician and former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi will replace career diplomat Pranay Verma, who will move to Brussels as the Indian Ambassador to the European Union (EU). Bangladesh-India partnership set to boost medical tourism Pranay Verma, current Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, has recently been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union. On April 10, the Ministry of External Affairs of India announced his appointment, noting that he will be accredited as Ambassador of India to the European Union. Pranay Verma, who served as Ambassador of India to Vietnam, arrived in Dhaka on September 21, 2022. India is sending a political appointee to the neighbourhood after a long time. Earlier, Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP’s National Information and Technology Department and co-incharge West Bengal congratulated Dinesh Trivedi for being appointed as India's envoy to High Commissioner to Bangladesh. Trivedi was a Union Minister for Railways and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime as a member of the Trinamool Congress(TMC). He resigned from the TMC on February 12, 2021 and joined the BJP on March 6, 2021.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) on Monday launched a new report calling for accelerated and coordinated investment reforms to position Bangladesh for stronger growth in the post-LDC graduation era. The “UNCTAD Investment Policy Review (IPR) Implementation Report” was unveiled at a high-level dialogue in the capital, bringing together policymakers, business leaders and development partners to assess progress and identify priorities for improving the country’s investment climate. Speaking at the event, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said the report comes at a right moment for the country. "While global investment is currently slowed by geopolitical tensions, we are using this period to enhance our readiness. Our goal is to ensure that when global conditions shift, Bangladesh is in a more advantageous position to welcome investors," he said. He emphasised that BIDA’s next phase will focus on implementation, coordination, and ensuring a predictable environment for investors through a more unified state mechanism. Sonali Dayaratne, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, noted that strong investment policies and institutional capacity are vital for attracting "responsible and impactful" investments. She highlighted that such investments are essential for creating decent jobs, fostering innovation, and ensuring inclusive growth after the country’s LDC graduation. The 2026 IPR Implementation Report, prepared by UNCTAD at the request of BIDA, assesses a decade of progress following the original 2013 review. While the report noted significant strides in expanding digital investment services and establishing BIDA as the lead agency for investment facilitation, it also identified critical areas for further reform. These include the formulation of a comprehensive and integrated national investment policy, introduction of a unified investment law to streamline regulations and completing the transition to fully digital investment processes to improve ease of doing business. The event featured a video message from Nan Li Collins, Director of the Investment and Enterprise Division at UNCTAD, and a keynote presentation by Kiyoshi Adachi, Legal Officer at UNCTAD. A high-level panel discussion, moderated by UNDP Bangladesh Country Economic Advisor Owais Parray, featured insights from Sohana Rouf Chowdhury, Managing Director of Rangs Group; Dr M Masrur Reaz, Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh; and Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO of BUILD, among others. The dialogue was organised under the Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP), implemented by UNDP Bangladesh with support from the UK government, aimed at strengthening economic governance through evidence-based reforms.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said UNDP, United Nations' lead agency on international development, should work in integration of technology in Bangladesh especially the ethical use of the AI, help in tackling misinformation and disinformation. She also said Bangladesh, as proponent of SAARC, wants to revitalise its activities and urged UNDP to spread its young political delegates programme with the SAARC countries and engage women entrepreneurs. Opposition plays ‘very cooperative role’ in Parliament: Speaker tells UNDP Resident Representative The issues were discussed when Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh Stefan Liller met the State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. The discussion also touched upon continued collaboration with UNDP on issues related to LDC graduation, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, Liller, who is coming to the end of his tenure, reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to working closely with the new government of Bangladesh. While expressing thanks to UNDP for its role in support of the country’s general elections by providing technical assistance, among others, in registering 5.8 million new voters, the State Minister urged UNDP to support the government’s “Bangladesh First” vision and expressed the government’s willingness to strengthen cooperation with UNDP to achieve desired socio-economic goals for its people. The State Minister acknowledged the work carried out by the UNDP over the years working closely with the government in improving governance, trade, commerce and investment, climate action and adaptation, poverty alleviation etc.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Monday laid emphasis on joint efforts to strengthen renewable energy cooperation and set a certain exemplary model for green development under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “I'm confident that with joint efforts, China-Bangladesh renewable energy cooperation will yield more fruitful results and a certain exemplary model for green development under the BRI,” he said while speaking at the 4th Bangladesh-China Renewable Energy Forum in the city. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood spoke as the chief guest at the Forum organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun spoke as a special guest at the event moderated by CPD Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem. The Ambassador highlighted the importance of working together to deliver tangible benefits to the people through practical cooperation, contribute to addressing global climate change, and build a community with a shared future for both countries. Ambassador Yao said it is high time for Bangladesh to really move to renewable energy. “It is also high time for China and Bangladesh to work together in this sector.” The Chinese envoy said they all know what is happening in the Middle East while they see some diplomatic efforts. “But no one knows when the conflict will be over and when the supply of oil and gas will be resumed.” He said the government of Bangladesh has already taken many initiatives  to come to the rescue and to relieve the difficulties faced by the people, factories and businesspeople. “They have done everything possible. They also asked for China’s help. We also do whatever we could.” The Ambassador, however, said it is just a short respite effort and if Bangladesh really wants to get rid of this, there needs to be a systematic solution. “And China will be part of it.” Looking forward, the Ambassador said China is ready to deepen cooperation and scale up investment and financial support through diversified financial channels. He said China will provide long-term, stable and preferential financial support for key renewable energy projects in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh-China Renewable Energy Forum has, over the past editions, emerged as an important policy dialogue platform bringing together key stakeholders from government, private sector, development partners, and international investors, particularly from China. The initiative is aimed at fostering mutual understanding, strengthening cooperation, and facilitating informed dialogue on Bangladesh’s renewable energy transition. Developing renewable energy is not only a strategic choice for Bangladesh to ensure energy security and strengthen export competitiveness, but also a priority area for Bangladesh-China cooperation that echoes the times and serves the well-being of both peoples, said Ambassador Yao. He said China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership through renewable energy cooperation, and support Bangladesh in realizing its vision of national prosperity and sustainable development. According to International Energy Agency data, global energy investment reached 3.3 trillion US dollars in 2025, among which 2.2 trillion US dollars are invested in clean energy. Over the past decade, China’s share in global clean energy investment has risen from 25% to nearly 33%. Three Strategic Implications Boasting of the world’s largest installed solar and wind power capacity, prominent full-chain cost advantages and a sound policy framework, Ambassador Yao said China has forged a distinctive path of energy transition and is willing to share experience and development opportunities with Bangladesh. Recently, the ongoing Middle East conflicts have intensified global energy market volatility and supply chain risks, posing severe challenges to global energy security. The envoy said Bangladesh is highly reliant on imported fossil fuels, with a high proportion of oil and gas consumption and low renewable energy penetration. Accelerating energy transition is not only an urgent task, but also embraces broad prospects and huge potential, he said. Ambassador Yao said renewable energy development carries three 'strategic implications' for Bangladesh. First, to safeguard national energy security, reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports, hedge against global price fluctuations, and enhance economic resilience. Second, to sharpen core export competitiveness, help pillar industries such as textiles and garments meet international green supply chain standards, stabilize global market shares, and drive industrial upgrading. Third, to advance green and low-carbon development, boost employment, attract foreign investment, foster the domestic clean energy industry, and advance carbon neutrality and sustainable development goals. The Ambassador said China-Bangladesh renewable energy cooperation boasts of solid foundations and fruitful outcomes. Areas of Future Cooperation First, the Ambassador highlighted the importance of strengthening policy coordination and experience sharing. "Having gradually shifted from feed-in tariff subsidies to grid parity, China has established an effective policy system for the photovoltaic industry," he said, noting that China is ready to assist Bangladesh in improving electricity pricing mechanisms and power purchase agreements, and shore up long-term investment confidence through stable policy expectations. Secondly, he talked about deepening industrial and technological collaboration. "As the world’s leading manufacturer of photovoltaic modules and wind power equipment, China delivers cost-effective and highly adaptable products that can substantially lower construction costs in Bangladesh," Ambassador Yao said. He said Chinese enterprises are ready to jointly build assembly lines for photovoltaic modules and energy storage batteries, promote technology transfer, talent training and local manufacturing, so as to cut import dependence and create jobs. Highlighting the importance of boosting investment and financing support, the Ambassador said they will also assist Bangladesh in cooperating with multilateral institutions including the IMF, the World Bank and the ADB, to improve project bankability and attractiveness, and effectively address funding bottlenecks in energy transition. "As developing nations with similar development priorities, China and Bangladesh enjoy enormous room for cooperation," said Ambassador Yao. He said China always respects Bangladesh’s development path and energy strategy, upholds win-win cooperation with no political strings attached, and remains a reliable development partner for Bangladesh.

The European Union (EU) is providing €175 000 in humanitarian funding to support efforts to prevent measles in Bangladesh. This funding will benefit communities in Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur, Mymensingh, said the EU Embassy in Dhaka on Monday. This EU funding will be provided to the Bangladesh Red Crescent to facilitate and sustain ongoing vaccinations’ campaigns and carry out other prevention activities, such as distributing hygiene kits. The most vulnerable families will also receive cash grants to help them face illness-related costs, such as transport to health centres or loss of income due to caring responsibilities. It is also foreseen the delivery of medical equipment to healthcare facilities. The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The EU remains a leading humanitarian donor in Bangladesh. In 2026, the EU is providing more than €23 million already allocated this year for humanitarian partners in the country. This includes €16.4 million in humanitarian aid to provide life-saving assistance to Rohingya refugees living in the country, mostly in Cox’s Bazar, as well as the host communities; while €7 million is dedicated to support disaster preparedness, and disaster risk reduction and resilience efforts in Bangladesh. The EU and its Member States are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. The EU is signatory to a €12 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF)