United News of Bangladesh

Electricity generated in Nepal will now reach Bangladesh via the Indian grid, marking the first trilateral power transaction. Md. Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Haryana Chief Minister and Indian Minister for Power, and Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar; and Dipak Khadka, Nepal's Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation jointly inaugurated the historic milestone in regional energy cooperation. This landmark development strengthens sub-regional connectivity and sets a new benchmark in the South Asian power sector. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed the development, highlighting its significance for sub-regional energy connectivity.

South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Park Young-sik has laid emphasis on taking bold steps for a stronger ties, eyeing next 50 years journey together with Bangladesh. "Let's renew our commitment to each other and take a bold step forward for a closer, deeper, stronger, and brighter future," he said. Speaking at a receception on Thursday night marking National Day of Korea, the envoy said the two countries cherished their close ties for the past 50 years, and he hope that everyone will join hands to start the next 50-year journey in the friendship between Korea and Bangladesh. Over the last 5 decades, the ambassador said, the two countries have witnessed a remarkable journey of cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, development, and people-to-people exchanges. Substantial bilateral relations began with the inception of Bangladesh’s RMG industry, he said. It is a well-known story that the partnership between Bangladesh Desh Garment and Korean company Daewoo Corporation in 1979 planted the seed of Bangladesh’s RMG industry. Since then, Korean garment enterprises have made great contributions to the rapid growth of Bangladesh’s RMG industry, which accounts for over 85% of the country's total exports. Korea's investment in Bangladesh has become the fourth largest in terms of accumulated amount. "Notably, there has been an increase in investment in manufacturing industries such as automobiles, mobile phones, and consumer electronic goods through joint ventures with local partners," said the ambassador. These companies are creating good quality jobs through domestic production.The success story in Korean investment is the establishment of the first country-specific private Export Processing Zone, KEPZ, in Chattogram. The KEPZ is currently exporting roughly 1.25 billion USD and employing 70,000 workers. "I hope that the KEPZ will continue to serve as a flagship symbol of the Korea-Bangladesh business ties," said the ambassador. Current bilateral trade between Korea and Bangladesh stands at approximately $2.6 to $3 billion. The two nations agreed to start the negotiation of bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement. This EPA will further enhance trade and investment in mutually beneficial ways, he said. The great Bengali poet and the first Asian Nobel Laureate, Rabindrantah Tagore, wrote a poem in 1929 for the Koreans, calling Korea as “the Lamp of the East.” "That poem gave inspiring courage and determination to the Korean people. With Tagore's inspiring and shared values of democracy and market economy, Bangladesh and Korea have cultivated mutually excellent relations across all fields," said the Ambassador.

The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) will host the 3rd edition of the Bay of Bengal Conversation (BOBC) 2024, an international geopolitical conference, which begins in Dhaka on Saturday. "We are honored to have Dr Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, and a well known person as our inaugural speaker," said Executive Director of CGS, Zillur Rahman on Friday. He said Dr Yunus’s perspective will set the tone for three days of meaningful and impactful discussions. The announcement was made during a press briefing by the Executive Director of CGS, Zillur Rahman. Zillur said the third rendition of the Bay of Bengal Conference is the biggest event to date hosted by CGS. “This year’s conference, “A Fractured World,” brings together over 200 speakers, 300 delegates, and an audience of 800 participants hailing from more than 80 countries around the world, he said. Zillur also mentioned that Bangladesh stands at a unique moment in its history. Recent developments have opened up profound opportunities for our nation to redefine itself on democratic principles with a new openness to dialogue and collaboration. The Bay of Bengal Conversation will reflect this spirit by serving as a global platform to explore challenges that resonate across borders, from human rights and climate change to economic development, security, and technological transformation. He said, “This is more than a conference; it’s a call to action. Together, we aim to address the fractures dividing nations and communities, fostering new dialogues and solutions.” He also mentioned that the last two years of experience of this event was bitter. But CGS made it a successful event. "Hopefully this year won’t be different." Munira Khan, Chair of CGS said the Bay of Bengal Conversation has some agendas. "We want to discuss these issues. This is not for any political party but for the people.” She also said this conference is not a governmental event rather a non-governmental one and its result will be enjoyed by all the people around the world.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday said his government would carry out vital labour reforms in an effort to attract more foreign investment in the country's manufacturing sector. The Chief Adviser made the comments during a meeting with former British Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the COP29 global climate conference in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku. "The labour issue is one of our top priorities. We want to resolve all labour issues," Professor Yunus told her as they discussed Bangladesh's recent developments. May expressed her desire to work on the issue. She also discussed human trafficking and migration with Bangladesh's interim leader. Professor Yunus called for increased migration to Europe from Bangladesh through the legal channels, saying it will cut risky and irregular migration and act as a deterrence against human trafficking. Brazil VP’s wife meets Dr Yunus at COP29 Professor Yunus gifted a copy of the Art of Triumph, a book on graffiti and murals painted by Bangladeshi young people during the July-August revolution, to the prominent British politician. Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy of the Chief Adviser; Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and Principal Coordinator of SDG Affairs; and M Anamul Haq, Bangladesh ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan, were also present during the meeting.

Bangladesh wants India to stop the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from making political statements from the neighbouring country, stressing that Dhaka remains unhappy over such activities. "We have conveyed this to the Indian government through the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka," Toufique Hasan, Director General of the Public Diplomacy wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters at the weekly briefing on Thursday. He said the government is unhappy over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s frequent political statements. Hasina fled to India on August 5 following a mass uprising led by students and people. Since August 5, she has been residing in India and continuously issuing political statements from there, the government has observed. Responding to a question, Toufique said the Indian High Commissioner said he would convey the message to his government. When asked about the process of bringing Sheikh Hasina back from India in relation to the warrant issued by the International Crimes Tribunal, the DG said the Foreign Ministry has not received any request from the relevant ministry yet. "If we receive any directive from the concerned ministry, we will take the necessary steps," he added. The Foreign Ministry is trying to ensure that Bangladeshi students, who need to go to India to obtain third country visas, can get their visas from other countries like Vietnam, Uzbekistan or Pakistan, he said. Toufique said the government has ordered Mohammed Kamrul Islam, Counsellor (Labour Wing) at the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva, to return home and dismissed a local staff member from the mission following the harassment faced by Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul in Geneva. “It was an unfortunate and unexpected incident," he said. He also said the Ministry has already instructed all Bangladesh missions abroad to take adequate measures to ensure the security and appropriate protocol for high-level government dignitaries during foreign visits.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday described the “campaign” against some of Bangladesh envoys abroad and those who are going to be posted afresh as “very unfortunate.”   “It’s truly very unfortunate, because an ambassador/high commissioner goes to the highest level with a long experience of 20-25 years. If he or she does not have enough experience then the government does not appoint him/her,” said Toufique Hasan, Director General (Public Diplomacy). Toufique Hasan urged journalists to verify facts before publishing any report. Foreign Ministry denounces corruption allegations against foreign cadre officials, citing audit objections misinterpretation The DG said they are not doing the good things who are working behind the Bangladesh envoys and with this they are actually portraying a negative image of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Bangladesh government abroad. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he requested all to publish reports after being sure about facts. “Don't do anything that projects a negative image of Bangladesh.” Briefing the reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Toufique said the government has decided not to extend the service tenure of the envoys after their retirement. Around seven to eight ambassadors are scheduled to complete their assignments, and as part of ongoing reforms, they will not get extensions, he said.

British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific Catherine West will visit Bangladesh on November 16-17 to discuss ways to strengthen ties with Bangladesh on key fronts. She is expected to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, said Toufique Hasan, Director General (Public Diplomacy), while briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday afternoon. Toufique said the purpose of her visit is to strengthen the Bangladesh-UK economic, strategic and migration partnerships. Her responsibilities include India and the Indian Ocean, China and Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, economic security and growth and economics and evaluation. Catherine West was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 9 July 2024. Since 2015 she has been the Labour MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet. Before entering politics, Catherine was a social worker. She also worked with refugees in London during the Balkans crisis from 1998 to 2000.

Lu Alckmin, the wife of the vice president of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin, called on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the venue of the COP29 global climate conference on Thursday. During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest. Lu Alckmin handed over a book she wrote on the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate to him. She said she has translated the books of Prof Yunus and launched social business enterprises after being inspired by his work. Dr Yunus stressed the need for increased trade and cooperation between Bangladesh and South America's largest economy. Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and Principal Coordinator of the SDG Affairs, was also present during the meeting.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday said his country is keen to deepen ties with Bangladesh and take the bilateral relationship to a new height, hoping that Bangladesh will grow and prosper under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. "Your task is very challenging. But I know you are the one who can surmount the challenge," President Aliyev said when he met Prof Yunus on the sidelines of the COP29 global climate conference in the Azerbaijan capital Baku. He congratulated Prof Yunus for assuming the leadership of the interim government and said Bangladesh will grow and prosper under his (Prof Yunus) leadership. Prof Yunus is scheduled to return home on Thursday night, an official told UNB. The Azerbaijan President said a high-level team of the Azerbaijan government will visit Bangladesh early next year to sign a comprehensive arrangement deal with Bangladesh. He said his country is keen to invest in Bangladesh and is exploring the possibility of opening an embassy in Dhaka as both nations see increasing opportunities for trade, commerce, and international cooperation. Read: ‘Pay up or humanity will pay the price’, Guterres warns at COP29 climate summit

The government has asked Mohammed Kamrul Islam, Counsellor (Labour wing) at Bangladesh Mission in Geneva, to return home. He has been stand released following the harassment faced by Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul in Geneva recently, a source at Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry said on Thursday. Kamrul was accompanying the adviser when the incident occurred before entering the airport. He allegedly remained silent when Asif Nazrul was "harassed." A video went viral on social media that a group of people aggressively confronted Asif Nazrul at Geneva airport while chanting slogans like "Joy Bangla" and "Joy Bangabandhu."