United News of Bangladesh

Ambassador of Vietnam to Bangladesh Nguyen Manh Cuong on Saturday said there are still many untapped potentials that both countries should further cooperate to explore in the coming time. "It is certain that Vietnam – Bangladesh traditional friendship is flourishing and Vietnam will always be a good friend of Bangladesh," he said. The Ambassador said the government and people of Vietnam always keep in their hearts and greatly value the invaluable support that the government and people of Bangladesh have extended to Vietnam from the past to the present. Adviser of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Farida Akhter joined the reception as the chief guest. Vietnam and Bangladesh share many things in common in the cause of national building and development that both countries can mutually learn, promote and support each other, said the envoy. "Throughout the long history with ups and downs, our good sentiment has remained unchanged," he said. Over the past 51 years of traditional friendship, the two countries have been closely cooperating in multiple areas and became good partners, the envoy said. The delegation exchanges between Vietnam and Bangladesh are frequently held. Since the beginning of 2024, ministerial-level delegation visits have been organized in order to explore the untapped potentials in rail transport, labor protection and social security assurance. Moreover, the envoy said, both countries have close cooperation at regional and international forums. We extend mutual support in favor of each country’s candidature at international forums. In terms of economics and trade, the two countries witness gradual growth year by year. Last year, the bilateral trade volume reached 1.05 billion USD. "In the first 7 months of 2024, our trade volume reached 651 million USD. The two economies are on the right track to pursue the target of 2 billion USD in trade volume as committed by the highest leaders of both countries," said the Ambassador. In August this year, the 42-member business delegation of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry paid a working visit to Vietnam and enjoyed a number of fruitful B2B programs in Thai Binh Province and Ho Chi Minh City with the support of the Embassy and Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam.  

Highlighting the importance of a workable relations with India, South Asian affairs expert Michael Kugelman has said the interim government in Bangladesh will need to be “very careful” about how it pursues its relations with New Delhi. “I think that we need to be very clear. At least in my view, Bangladesh cannot afford to lose India. It needs that partnership for reasons of trade, border security and geopolitics,” Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. said in a webinar hosted by Right to Freedom - R2F. He thinks it really needs to maintain “workable relations” with India, not necessarily “super warm” relations. Kugelman also thinks India's own interests dictate a workable relationship with Bangladesh.  

South Asian affairs expert Michael Kugelman has said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’ participation at the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September will be a big opportunity for him to share his government’s economic plans, including what areas specifically the international community can be helpful in strengthening and stabilizing Bangladesh's economy. “And if he does, he would be speaking in New York on the biggest global platform since he took over the role of adviser leading the interim government,” Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. said in a webinar hosted by Right to Freedom - R2F. Kugelman said there are several things that Prof Yunus could do, several things that he could say. “I think that above all he should lay out a vision for governance, the goals of the interim government, his plans for reforms and his efforts to push for the restoration of democracy.” Right to Freedom Board Member Jon Danilowicz moderated the webinar while Right to Freedom Executive Director Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey gave a brief introduction of the panel of speakers and Ambassador (retd.) William B. Milam, Board President of the R2F, offered opening remarks. Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Fahmida Khatun, Secretary, Citizens for Good Governance, Dr. Badiul Alam Mazumdar spoke at the webinar which aimed to foster conversations on critical aspects of Bangladesh’s new journey under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. Kugelman said he thinks that Prof Yunus’ platform at the UNGA would give him an opportunity to weigh in on what is arguably Bangladesh's biggest humanitarian challenge, the Rohingya refugee issue. “I think that it would be useful for him to make a pitch for international assistance or more international assistance for Rohingya refugees, which would be an especially important pitch for two reasons,” he said. One - the war in Myanmar is intensifying in a big way, and it was seen in recent weeks’ fresh inflows of Rohingya refugees coming into Bangladesh. Second - international donor attention has been drawn elsewhere, due to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, among other places. “And so I think there is a risk that the Rohingya crisis, which has received significant levels of international attention and donor support in recent years, but there still is a risk that it could be overlooked. So I think that the UNGA would be a really good opportunity for Prof Yunus to reorient attention around that challenge,” said the expert. Kugelman said foreign policy will not be the uppermost priority for the interim government in the next few weeks. The biggest priorities will be issues of law and order, economic stabilization and reform, among other things, he said, adding that, “That's not to say that there are no urgent foreign policy priorities right now. "There are. And in particular, the relationship with India," he said. He thinks it is very important to talk about how the interim government in Bangladesh should approach its international relations. He said the government has both advantages and disadvantages as it approaches its foreign policy. In terms of the advantages, what it has in its favor - "the Yunus factor." "I think it is something that we really need to underscore here. He is a star abroad. He's a household name. He's deeply respected. And he really will not have to work very hard at all to get the world's attention or the world's respect." Also, he said, Bangladesh is a significant global economic player and a nonaligned state, a geo-strategically important country in an era of great power competition. “And this means that much of the world will want to engage with the interim government,” Kugelman said. Bangladesh still has a significant degree of political uncertainty right now and this is something that has made and will continue to make a number of world leaders and capitals a bit nervous. “And also the law and order situation, which may be more stable now than it was several weeks ago, but remains tenuous. This is something that will have impacts on global investors, among others, in terms of how they perceive Bangladesh right now,” Kugelman said. Above all, he said, it would be very useful to reach out to and reassert the importance of ties with Bangladesh with its wide range of commercial economic partners. Kugelman said Bangladesh is a country that has a significant role in the global economy and it has a wide range of partners across the board. This includes sponsors of infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, like China and Japan. It includes key trade partners like the EU and of course the US. And it includes energy suppliers in the Middle East, among other things. “And I think that diplomatic outreach is especially important now, given that the economic situation in Bangladesh is quite precarious,” he said. Bangladesh, for example, will need to show in very concrete ways that it is taking the right steps on restoring law and order and security, Kugelman said. Prof Yunus, with his reputation in the West as a fervent supporter of democracy, can be an asset in this regard. “But Bangladesh's government, I think, will really need to show that it is truly committed to restoring democracy and human rights. And speaking of Dr Yunus, he will have a big opportunity very soon in the next few weeks, at the UNGA meetings, which I understand he will be attending,” he said.

India has said they have seen the CNN report on the flood situation in Bangladesh, and its narrative is “misleading”, suggesting that India is somehow responsible for the floods. “It is factually not correct and ignores the facts mentioned in the press releases issued by the Government of India clarifying the situation. They also have ignored that we have regular and timely exchange of data and critical information between the two countries through existing joint mechanisms for water resources management,” said official spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of Exteral Affairs Randhir Jaiswal while responding to a question. Feni flooding: People struggling to stand on foot after flood During a regular media briefig in New Delhi on Friday, Jaiswal said there are established procedures between India and Bangladesh for several years now. The two countries  have 54 rivers that they share, and this mechanism and institutional mechanisms that they have been in existence for quite some time. “As part of the established procedure, we have been exchanging data on a timely and regular basis with Bangladesh,” said the spkespers. 2 million children at risk as worst floods hit Bangladesh: UNICEF On the question of flood in eastern Bangladesh and floods in Tripura, he said, they had issued two press releases, giving the factual position as to why they have happened. Flooding in eastern Tripura and eastern Bangladesh happened essentially because of incessant and excessive rain. “And thereafter, we have explained in the two press releases exactly what the situation was. So, these mechanisms to help both countries deal with flood issues and water management issues are there,” Jaiswal said. He said if there are any new mechanisms that can help further in controlling or helping the sufferings of the people or helping deal with its natural disasters, this is a matter that they can take forward with Bangladesh. On the issue of visa, the spokesperson  said they are issuing visas in a limited manner for medical and emergency purposes. Once the situation becomes normal, law and order is restored, then they will begin their full-fledged operations of visa, he said. Present Engagement with Bangladesh Jaiswal said their High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma had an introductory meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, where he discussed several aspects of their relationship. He also talked about how India would like to continue to work with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of people of both countries for prosperity, security, and development. High Commissioner Verma had conveyed that their commitment to taking forward the relationship in accordance with their respective national priorities. “He stressed on this fact. They also discussed other issues, including the safety of Hindus and minorities there,” Jaiswal said. The High Commissioner also informed Chief Adviser that the flooding in eastern Bangladesh was caused due to excessive rain. “There are other aspects that you have highlighted. We have taken note of that, and hopefully, we will have more engagement on such issues later,” Jaiswal said. Responding to a question, the MEA spokesperson said they have stated earlier that former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina came to India at a very short notice for safety reasons. “We have nothing further to add on that matter.” Impacts on Projects Jaiswal said that because of the turmoil in Bangladesh, their projects have been impacted. “Let me tell you that our development cooperation activities with Bangladesh are aimed at the welfare of the people of Bangladesh.” “You would have seen that the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech as well had stated that India will always be a well-wisher of Bangladesh in its development journey,” he added. Jaiswal said the work on some of the projects has stalled and has been affected because of the law and order situation I Bagladesh. “Once the situation stabilizes, normalcy is restored, then we will talk to, we will engage in consultations with the interim government about our development initiatives and then see how best to take those forward and what sort of understanding we can reach on them,” Jaiswal said. On security issue, he said security during the turmoil was a problem not just for them but for everybody. “You saw what happened to the Indian Cultural Centre. It was in the news all over.” Jaiswal said the Bangladesh authorities tried their best for the security. “Hopefully normalcy returns soon that we can begin our engagement in the right earnest.” India’s development projects in Bangladesh have been temporarily halted due to the current situation as many people working on various development projects there had to return. “Due to several reasons, these projects have been paused. Once the situation improves and law and order are restored, we will discuss with their government how to proceed further,” Jaiswal said.  

The Instrument of Accession to the International Convention for Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) has been officially deposited to the Secretary General of the United Nations, who is the depository of all multilateral treaties. Ambassador Muhammad A Muhith, the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations handed over the copy of the instrument to the Chief of the Treaty Section David K Nanopoulos, who received the copy on behalf of the Secretary General on August 30. According to the provision of the Convention, it will enter into force for Bangladesh on 29 September 2024, on the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of the instrument of accession. During the hand-over, Ambassador Muhith said the current interim government in Bangladesh led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus is deeply committed to upholding all human rights and fundamental freedoms for our people. Fakhrul calls for UN-led investigation into cases of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh “The Government’s commitment is aptly demonstrated in the fact that, within 20 days of installation, the Government completed all internal procedures for accession to this important human rights treaty,” he said. Nanopoulos congratulated Bangladesh on this historic occasion and appreciated the commitment of Bangladesh to the multilateral treaty framework. He informed that the United Nations will immediately issue all necessary notifications on Bangladesh’s accession to the International Convention for Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.  “The Instrument has been deposited on a very special day, on 30th August, which is observed globally as the International Day for Victims of Enforced Disappearance. Our action today manifests our solidarity to the countless victims who have been subjected to such heinous crimes and their families,” added Ambassador Muhith while handing over the instrument to the United Nations. Issue of enforced disappearances has a long, painful history in Bangladesh: UN rights body With the handover of the Instrument of Accession, Bangladesh has now completed all procedures for becoming the 76th party to International Convention for Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, according to Bangladesh Mission in New York.  

Referring to the recent telephone conversation between Indian Prime Miister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, India has said the absence of an aspect in one press release or the other is not evidence of its absence in the conversation itself. “I am very much aware of the contents of the conversation between the Prime Minister and the President of the United States and I can tell you that our press release is an accurate and faithful record of what transpired in the conversation,” said official spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal while responding to a question. The MEA spokesperson made the remarks when a journalist drew his attention, noting that they saw the conversation between Prime Minister Modi and the US President Biden; but they also saw "discrepancies" in the readout and absence of certain topics in their readout during a regular briefing in New Delhi on Friday. 470 kms of rivers to be dredged with BD-India joint financing Firstly, he said, press releases issued after conversations between leaders are not like joint statements where every word is negotiated and mutually agreed upon. Secondly, the spokesperson said such press releases are not meant to be comprehensive readouts of such conversations. Finally, he said it is not unusual for two sides to emphasize different aspects of the same conversation in their respective readouts. “The subject of Bangladesh, which has been highlighted, as you pointed out, by certain quarters, was very much discussed substantially by both the leaders,” said the MEA spokesperson. He said they have seen that there have been some comments in that regard. “Let me tell you, these claims are uninformed, tendentious, and motivated and betray a total lack of familiarity with the process of how such contacts between leaders are organized and then followed upon.” According to the Indian Prime Minister’s office, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday discussed the situation in Bangladesh. The two leaders stressed the need for early restoration of normalcy and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh. BD-India joint venture can benefit both nations in COVID-19 reality: FBCCI President "I reiterated India’s full support for early return of peace and stability," Modi said. The two leaders expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh. The White House, however, avoided Bangladesh issues in its readout, though the Indian side, through their Prime Minister’s Office, had said Biden and Modi discussed the situation in Bangladesh as well as other issues.  

 Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain has led a two-member delegation to the 50th Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from August 29-30 and highlighted the events leading to the second revolution through a mass uprising of people led by the valiant students in Bangladesh. He reiterated the resolution of the government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus for an impartial and internationally credible investigation into the massacre and subsequent due judicial processes. He informed the meeting on Bangladesh’s accession to the UN Convention on Protection for all persons from enforced disappearance. He reiterated Bangladesh’s continued engagements with the OIC and strong commitment to establish peace process for Palestine, denounce Islamophobia, hate-crimes against Muslims, and engage in further trade and investment by strengthening the transportation and communication infrastructure. Bangladesh’s Envoy to Algeria and Senior Official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined the meeting. This year, the CFM was held with the theme “Intra OIC transportation and communication infrastructure” where several political, economic, social, cultural, and security issues were discussed. A resolution, namely ‘Situation of the Rohingya Muslim Community in Myanmar’ has been adopted unanimously to keep the momentum in exerting continuous pressure on Myanmar authorities. Foreign Adviser Mr. Hossain also had call-on with his counterparts of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan at the sideline of the CFM. Meanwhile, on August 29, an open-ended meeting of the OIC Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations against the Rohingyas was also held on the margin of the CFM. The Foreign Adviser highlighted the current situation in the Rakhine State and urged all to maintain international pressure on Myanmar for quick solution to the problem.  

On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has said the global community must hold Bangladesh accountable and protect the rights of its citizens. Chief Adviser of JMBF Robert Simon emphasised the importance of global cooperation in addressing this crisis. "Enforced disappearances are an affront to humanity. We must collaborate internationally to ensure that every missing person is found and that those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice,” Simon said in a statement issued from Paris on Friday. JMBF stands in unwavering solidarity with the victims and families affected by enforced disappearances in Bangladesh. It said this day serves as a crucial reminder of the need to protect the fundamental rights of all citizens and to ensure justice for those who have been forcibly taken from their families. Enforced disappearances in Bangladesh remain a severe issue, leaving countless families in distress and uncertainty, JMBF said, adding that they are committed to advocating for the rights of these victims, ensuring they receive the justice and rehabilitation they deserve. Founder President of JMBF Advocate Shahanur Islam stressed the urgency of accountability and support for the affected families. "In Bangladesh, families live in constant agony, unaware of the fate of their loved ones. It is our collective responsibility to provide these families with the necessary psychological, legal, and financial support. We must also advocate for robust legal frameworks in Bangladesh to prevent such tragedies and to hold those responsible fully accountable." JMBF urged the government of Bangladesh to take immediate and decisive action to end enforced disappearances, secure justice for victims and their families, and restore the rule of law in the country. Key Points of JMBF's Call to Action: Protection from Disappearances: Urging the enactment and implementation of strong legal frameworks and proactive measures to prevent enforced disappearances and protect every citizen. Justice and Rehabilitation: Ensuring victims and their families receive appropriate rehabilitation, including psychological, legal, and financial support, while holding perpetrators accountable through transparent legal processes. Prompt Tracing and Return: Strengthening efforts to swiftly locate missing persons, return them to their families, and provide comprehensive support during these challenging times. Accountability: Identifying and punishing those responsible for enforced disappearances, ensuring that such actions do not go unpunished, and setting a precedent to prevent future occurrences. We also call upon the international community to remain vigilant and to continue pressing for accountability in Bangladesh. On this day, JMBF honors the victims of enforced disappearances and reaffirms its commitment to fighting for justice, truth, and the protection of human rights for all.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has received an official invitation from Bangladesh interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to conduct an impartial and independent fact-finding mission into human rights violations committed from July 1 to August 15. Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani confirmed it on Friday. The Office will deploy a fact-finding team to Bangladesh in the coming weeks, with a view to reporting on violations and abuses perpetrated during the protests, analysing root causes and, and making recommendations to advance justice and accountability and for longer-term reforms, she said. Issue of enforced disappearances has a long, painful history in Bangladesh: UN rights body The team received commitments from the Interim Government and security forces for full cooperation in this work. Earlier, the International Crimes Strategy Forum (ICSF) urged the UN rights body to investigate events which took place both before and after August 5. The ICSF has written a letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk seeking his initiative in this regard. "Given the UN's intention to help Bangladesh with the transition, we believe that the investigations should look into the events which took place both before and after August 5. We learnt from media reports that the Law Advisor of the Interim Government Dr Asif Nazrul wants the UN to look into events only up to August 5, 2024," the letter reads. An advance team has been in Bangladesh over the last week (from August 22-29) meeting with student leaders of the recent protests, many of whom have been detained or injured in recent weeks. 2 million children at risk as worst floods hit Bangladesh: UNICEF The team also had meetings with a wide range of advisors in the Interim Government, the Chief Justice, senior officers of the police and armed forces, lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders, representatives of political parties, and minority and indigenous communities. In its meetings, the team discussed the modalities for an investigation into human rights violations and abuses in the context of the recent violence and unrest, as requested by the Interim Government. It also discussed wider areas – including civic space, the need for truth, justice, healing, reparation and reconciliation, and other human rights approaches to the reform process – in which our Office could provide sustained support, Shamdasani said.

The United Nations has said the issue of enforced disappearances has a long and painful history in Bangladesh, on which the UN Human Rights Office and UN human rights mechanisms have advocated robustly. "We stand ready to support the Commission in its work, which should be in close consultation with victims and their families and in line with international human rights standards, including the guiding principles for the search for disappeared persons," Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani said on Friday. The UN Human Rights Office looks forward to supporting the Interim government and people of Bangladesh at this pivotal moment to revitalise democracy, seek accountability and reconciliation, and advance human rights for all the people in Bangladesh. The High Commissioner for Human Rights warmly welcomed the announcement of Bangladesh’s accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the establishment of a five-member national commission of inquiry to determine the whereabouts of individuals forcibly disappeared allegedly by law enforcement agencies Earlier, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk received an official invitation from the Chief Advisor, Prof Muhammad Yunus, to conduct an impartial and independent fact-finding mission into human rights violations committed from 1 July to 15 August. The Office will deploy a fact-finding team to Bangladesh in the coming weeks, with a view to reporting on violations and abuses perpetrated during the protests, analysing root causes and, and making recommendations to advance justice and accountability and for longer-term reforms, said the Spokesperson. The team received commitments from the Interim Government and security forces for full cooperation in this work. An advance team has been in the country over the last week (from 22-29 August) meeting with student leaders of the recent protests, many of whom have been detained or injured in recent weeks, as well as a wide range of advisors in the Interim Government, the Chief Justice, senior officers of the police and armed forces, lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders, representatives of political parties, and minority and indigenous communities. In its meetings, the team discussed the modalities for an investigation into human rights violations and abuses in the context of the recent violence and unrest, as requested by the Interim Government. It also discussed wider areas – including civic space, the need for truth, justice, healing, reparation and reconciliation, and other human rights approaches to the reform process – in which their Office could provide sustained support, said the Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.