United News of Bangladesh

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has expressed its deep concern and strong protest over the tragic killing of 14-year-old Swarna Das, a schoolgirl who was fatally shot by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on the night of September 1 at the Lalarchak border area of Sharifpur Union, Kulaura, Moulvibazar. JMBF, in a statement on Saturday, called upon the government of India to immediately halt these unlawful and violent actions against innocent civilians. JMBF believes that the killing of young Swarna by indiscriminate gunfire is a gross violation of human rights and international norms. The excessive use of force by the BSF is both unjustifiable and inexcusable, resulting in the loss of an innocent life and injuries to others, it said in a statement. JMBF asserts that Swarna, a bright student, was attempting to cross the border with her mother to visit her brother in Tripura, India, when she was tragically killed. Robert Simon, a French human rights activist and Chief Adviser of JMBF, said this incident is a shocking violation of human rights. “No border security measure should involve the killing of innocent civilians, especially children. We urge the international community to join us in condemning these inhumane actions and pressing for justice for the victims and their families.” Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder President of JMBF, added: “Incidents of border killings are both undesirable and unjustified……the Indian authorities must ensure that their border forces respect human dignity and operate within the bounds of the law.” JMBF called upon the government of India to immediately halt these unlawful and violent actions against innocent civilians.

The Plenary of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution proclaiming the July 6 every year as the “World Rural Development Day”.  The resolution was initiated by Bangladesh, and was tabled by a core group comprising of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines and Thailand.   Total 43 countries co-sponsored the resolution, which was adopted on September 6 by consensus by the member states of the UN, without any voting.  This is indeed the first UN General Assembly resolution steered by Bangladesh after the assumption of the interim government; which marked the new government’s commitment to cater the needs of those who are in need, through effective use of multilateralism, by ensuring equal access to opportunities in all areas of the SDGs, leaving no one behind.  The Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN in New York conducted the negotiations on the draft resolution, in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, said the Bangladesh Mission on Saturday.  The 6th of July has been chosen as the Day in commemoration of the date of establishment of the “Center for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP)” on 06 July 1979, as a recognition of the organization’s assistance role in sustainable rural development endeavors in its member states in the Asia-Pacific region.     During the plenary session of the UNGA, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, New York, presented the resolution before the UN General Assembly.  He underscored the importance of sustainable and inclusive rural development in attaining the 2030 SDG goals globally, including in areas like poverty alleviation, food production, socio-economic development, ecosystem restoration and improved livelihoods.  Ambassador Muhith expressed optimism that the proclamation of the World Rural Development Day would create global awareness about the importance of collaborative actions on integrated, sustainable and inclusive rural development, and would accelerate worldwide movements and actions to enhance socio-economic progress for rural populations with the view to meet the 2030 SDGs. The resolution calls upon all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, individuals and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society, farmers’ organizations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, the private sector and academia, to observe World Rural Development Day by presenting and promoting, as appropriate in national and regional contexts, concrete activities with regard to the sustainable development of rural areas and communities.  It also requests the UN Secretary General to bring it to the attention of all relevant stakeholders including member states for the appropriate observance of the Day. 

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has condemned border killings of Bangladeshis by India's Border Security Force, describing it as callousness and insisting they must stop because killing is no solution. In an interview with India's state-owned news agency the Press Trust of India, or PTI, at his official residence in Dhaka, he also said the interim government would pursue ways to resolve differences over the long-pending Teesta water sharing treaty with India, as delaying it for years serves no purpose for either nation. Speaking about the contentious issue of border killings, Yunus condemned it and said killing is not a solution to dealing with anything. "Killing someone is not a solution, as there are legal ways to deal with this. There has to be a ground mechanism and legal procedure to handle it. This is a one-sided thing. No one is crossing the border to capture your country; those who are being killed by shooting are just couriers. This is callousness. This has to stop," he said. Yunus stated that the water-sharing issue between the two countries must be resolved according to international norms, emphasising that lower riparian countries like Bangladesh have specific rights that they seek to uphold. "By sitting over this issue (water sharing), it is not serving any purpose. If I know how much water I will get, even if I am not happy and sign it, it would be better. This issue has to be resolved," he said. Replying to a query on whether the interim government would push for resolving the issues over the Teesta water-sharing treaty at the earliest, he said the new regime will pursue it. "Push is a big word; I am not saying it. We will pursue it. But we have to sit together and resolve it," he told PTI. "This is not a new issue but a very old issue. We have spoken on this issue on several occasions. The discussions began during the period of Pakistan's rule. While we all wanted this treaty to be finalised, even the Indian government was ready for it. However, the state government of West Bengal was not ready for it. We need to resolve it," he said. Speaking about the flood situation in Bangladesh and reports from Dhaka blaming India for the floods, Yunus said that until the treaty is signed, a humanitarian approach can be adopted to deal with such crises. "When the High Commissioner (of India) came to meet me, I said that we can work on better management to see how the situation can be controlled during the floods. For such coordination between two countries, we don't need any treaty." "We can work on this together on humanitarian grounds and resolve this, as this will ease the suffering of the masses. Such humanitarian steps would really help," he said. This was the second part of PTI's interview with the CA. The first part was released on Thursday.

Former Foreign Minister and Bangladesh Awami League joint general secretary  Hasan Mahmud has left the country for Belgium before the travel ban imposed on a number of ministers including him, claimed a Chattogram-based media and a national private TV channel. Hasan served as the general secretary of the Belgium chapter of Awami League (AL) from 1995 until he returned home in 2001. His brother also lives in Belgium. Hasan, who was also information minister, first confirmed it to C-Plus TV and Chatga News on August 31 while talking to Alamgir Apu, Editor-in-Chief of the two Chattogram-based media outlets. Alamgir claimed that he had received a phone call from Hasan Mahmud at 10:27pm on August 31 when the former minister confirmed he is abroad now. Meanwhile, Independent Television in its report on Friday claimed that Hasan is now staying with his family in Belgium. From there, he is also talking on the mobile phone with his close friends in Dhaka and Chattogram, said the private television. Following the ACC's application, six days after he left the country, the court banned Hasan Mahmud from leaving the country on September 2. Some of the TV channels reported that the former foreign minister Hasan was detained at Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport on August 6 which many see as rumours. Hasan did not go directly to Belgium from Dhaka but he first went to Germany's Dusseldorf Airport via Dubai on an Emirates flight on August 26, Independent TV said. From there, General Secretary of the German branch of Awami League, Mubarak Ali Bhuiyan Bakul, drove him by road to Belgium. “He (Hasan) called me on August 31 around 10:30 pm. He may have realized his mistake and after realizing he called me and expressed his regret,” Independent TV quoted Alamgir Apu as saying. During the telephone conversation, Alamgir Apu said he (Hasan) expressed his regret for stopping the broadcast of C-Plus for some time. Earlier, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) instructed all banks in the country to freeze accounts of former Foreign Minister Hasan and his family members. On September 2, a Dhaka court issued a travel ban on 26 people, including 18 former ministers and state ministers, over the corruption allegations against them. Of the 26, nine former ministers are Hasan Mahmud of foreign affairs; Imran Ahmed of expatriates' welfare; Tipu Munshi of commerce; Anisul Huq of law; Tazul Islam of local government; Faridul Haque Khan of religious affairs; Hasanul Haque Inu of information; Golam Dastgir Gazi of textiles and jute; Anwar Hossain Manju of environment. Hasan  is also facing a number of cases following the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led previous government.

IFAD's newly appointed Country Director for Bangladesh Dr Valantine Achancho has said Bangladesh has “incredible potential” when it comes to agriculture and transforming rural communities.  “I am excited to collaborate with the government, our partners, and local communities to strengthen agricultural systems and improve lives across the country. By working together, we can create sustainable growth and give smallholder farmers the support they need to overcome challenges and thrive,” said Achancho while presenting his credentials to Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain recently. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) remains deeply committed to improving the lives and livelihoods of rural communities by boosting agricultural productivity, increasing rural incomes, and empowering smallholders and farmers, women, and youth, said Achancho. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized agency of the United Nations. Before coming to Bangladesh, Achancho served as IFAD Country Director and Representative for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo from 2020 to 2024, and has previously held the same position for Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad, IFAD said on Friday in a media release.  He also served as IFAD Country Programme Officer for Cameroon and Gabon, and Programme Officer for the Indian Ocean region, contributing to rural development projects in the Sahel and Congo basin, mobilizing co-financing, and strengthening partnerships with governments, donors, and civil society to improve rural livelihoods. In his new role of Country Director for Bangladesh, Achancho will be advocating for and enhancing national government programmes that strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable rural communities through infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture, while enhancing access to finance, technology, and markets for smallholders and marginalized groups to diversify the economy and create rural jobs. “I am dedicated to collaborating with our partners to empower rural communities, enabling them to adapt to climate change, tackle economic challenges, and build sustainable livelihoods for long-term resilience,” says Achancho. Before joining IFAD in 2011, Achancho was deputy director of farmers’ professional organizations and cooperative movement, and senior engineer in charge for prospective analysis and agricultural policies in the Ministry of Agriculture in Cameroon. His earlier positions include national coordinator for Agence Française de Développement (AFD) funded project, visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Dschang in Cameroon, and consultant for IFAD, the Word Bank and European Union operations. He holds a Ph.D in Sociology for Development from Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences. Since 1978, IFAD has supported the Government of Bangladesh in its ambitious rural development goals. Over the past 45 years, IFAD has supported 37 projects, mobilizing USD 3.9 billion in financing, to improve the lives and livelihoods of more than 11 million families. Today, IFAD’s programme in Bangladesh is one of its largest. Currently, IFAD has investment of USD 519 million in Bangladesh, distributed across six ongoing projects implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Local Government Engineering Department, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, and the Bangladesh Water Development Board. 

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md Shameem Ahsan has met Dr Haji Juhar bin Datuk Haji Mahiruddin, governor of Sabah, Malaysia. The governor warmly welcomed the Bangladeshi Envoy at Istana Seri Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu according to a message received here on Friday. During the meeting held recently, both expressed their deep satisfactions over the excellent bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Malaysia. They also discussed issues of mutual interests in a cordial atmosphere while stressing on stronger collaboration between the office of the governor and the high commission for mutually gainful engagements, said the high commission. Both exchanged the souvenirs. Syed Shariful Islam, Counsellor (Labour), Farhana Ahmed Chowdhury, Counsellor (Political) and Pranab Kumar Ghosh, First Secretary (Commerce) accompanied the High Commissioner during the meeting. The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia also held a meeting with the Minister of Finance of Sabah, Malaysia Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.

Foreign Ministry denounces corruption allegations against foreign cadre officials, citing audit objections misinterpretationThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside the Bangladesh Foreign Service Association (BFSA) in a press release on Thursday responded to recent media reports alleging corruption by officials working in various embassies abroad. The reports, based on claims made by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), suggested that these officials had amassed illegal wealth through misuse of power and other irregularities. In an official statement, the Ministry clarified that the accusations are primarily based on audit objections, which are a routine government process. These objections, related to financial discrepancies, are currently under review and involve the officials' pensions. The Ministry emphasized that labeling such audit-related issues as "corruption" is inaccurate and misleading. The report, which quoted a senior ACC official, suggested that officials and their families had accumulated wealth both in the country and abroad. However, the Ministry dismissed these allegations as baseless, stating that they are prepared to cooperate with any lawful investigation based on objective information. Audits are conducted regularly across all government departments to ensure adherence to financial regulations. If any discrepancies are found, officials are required to repay the amount, either directly or through deductions from their pensions. The Ministry highlighted that recent financial laws, which do not fully account for the realities faced by embassy officials abroad, have contributed to the audit objections. The Ministry also noted that the letter from the ACC, referenced in the media, has not yet been received. They expressed concern over how this sensitive information was leaked and called for an investigation. Many of the officials named in the letter have completed their careers with honor and have settled all audit-related issues. The Ministry warned that the premature publication of such allegations could tarnish the reputations of responsible individuals and harm the image of the Foreign Cadre. They stressed that sweeping comments without evidence are unacceptable and that legal action may be taken against those responsible for releasing such information. In conclusion, the Bangladesh Foreign Service Association reiterated the dedication and professionalism of Foreign Cadre officials, who continue to work tirelessly to safeguard Bangladesh's national interests abroad. They urged the public to avoid misinterpreting the situation and assured that the Ministry would remain vigilant in upholding the country's image and integrity.

During a recent call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden raised concerns about the safety and security of people in Bangladesh and the future of its democratic institutions, the White House has confirmed. John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, addressed the media on Wednesday, stating that both leaders "shared concerns" about the recent developments in Bangladesh. In his post on X, Modi mentioned, "We discussed the situation in Bangladesh and underscored the importance of restoring normalcy and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh."

The European Commission has released €1.1 million in humanitarian aid after devastating floods hit Bangladesh in recent weeks. This funding complements the ongoing distribution of hygiene and sanitary items, shelter tools, and kitchen sets from EU-funded emergency stockpiles, said the European Union (EU) Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday. Janez Lenarcic, Commissioner for Crisis Management, said the floods in Bangladesh have had a devastating impact on the affected communities. “We are making European Union funding available and have released contingency stocks that will help our humanitarian partners save lives during this emergency.” The funding announced today comes in addition to over €33.5 million already allocated in EU humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh in 2024. This assistance mainly funded support to Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazar, but also the response to other emergencies in the country, such as heatwaves, cyclones and flooding, as well as anticipatory actions.

Bangladesh has lodged a formal protest to the Government of India over the killing of a 13-year-old Bangladeshi girl by Border Security Force (BSF) of India.  Shwarna Das, of Juri upazila of Moulvibazar district, was shot dead by BSF troops on September 1. In the protest note sent to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Thursday, Bangladesh strongly protested and condemned such ruthless acts and expressed deep concern over the incident.  The Government of Bangladesh reminded that such incidents of border killing are undesirable and unwarranted and such actions are in violation of the provisions of the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities, 1975.  The Government of Bangladesh called upon the Government of India to stop repetition of such heinous acts and conduct enquiries into all border killings, identify the responsible persons and bring them to justice.