United News of Bangladesh

The European Union plans to send a large team of election observers to Bangladesh for the upcoming general election, the first such mission since 2008, said EU Ambassador Michael Miller. Ambassador Miller made the announcement during a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday. He said the EU observer mission is yet to be formally confirmed but could include between 150 and 200 members. Some observers are expected to arrive about six weeks before the election, while others may join a week prior to polling day. “This would be the first time since 2008 that the EU is sending such a full-fledged election observer team to Bangladesh,” Ambassador Miller told the Chief Adviser, adding that the EU would also assist in deploying local election observers during the vote. During the hour-long meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including governance and constitutional reforms, election preparations, judicial and labour reforms, trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and the EU, and the broader political process in the country. Ambassador Miller praised the July National Charter, describing it as a “very important" document aimed at ensuring a smooth democratic transition. Govt welcomes only genuine foreign election observers: Touhid He also commended the recently approved labour law reforms and initiatives to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, calling them ‘notable successes’. “These are all important steps,” he said, emphasising the EU’s continued support for the Election Commission’s efforts to ensure free, fair and credible elections in February. Miller described the upcoming polls as an ‘opportunity to reset the reputation of the country’. The envoy also reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s smooth graduation from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a middle-income nation. Both sides discussed ways to deepen trade and investment ties, including prospects for an economic partnership agreement and exploring new opportunities in aviation and shipping. They also agreed to work more closely on tackling human trafficking and illegal migration. The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh is expected to sign an agreement with global shipping giant A.P. Moller–Maersk for the development and management of the Laldia Terminal at Chattogram Port, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Commonwealth to send election observers to Bangladesh: Khosru Ambassador Miller noted that the Danish company plans to invest around $800 million to develop Laldia into one of the top terminals in the region. The two sides also discussed the election environment, candidate eligibility and ensuring due process to uphold human rights ahead of the vote.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said the government will encourage foreign nationals who wish to come as election observers but does not want anyone arriving in the guise of the observers with the intention of tarnishing Bangladesh’s reputation. “We will definitely encourage those who want to come as observers. But we do not want anyone to come intentionally to tarnish our reputation in the name of observation,” he said. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossain reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to holding a ‘free, fair and transparent’ election in Bangladesh. No response on request for Hasina’s extradition: Touhid Hossain US-based International Republican Institute (IRI), the European Union and the Commonwealth have already sent pre-election assessment missions to Bangladesh. “We think it’s a good sign,” said the Foreign Affairs Adviser, adding that as the election approaches, more delegations will definitely come to observe. “We want election observation to take place so that the transparency, freedom and fairness of the election are clearly demonstrated before everyone,” Hossain added. The interim government plans to hold the 13th parliamentary election in early February next year.    

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday Bangladesh sought extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following legal aspects and subsequent court’s order but did not get any reply from the Indian side. “We have followed the legal aspect that we have and we have asked them to return her as per the court's order. Let them look into it. They are yet to reply. Let them look into it from their side,” he said while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Bangladesh sent a diplomatic note (note verbale) to India in December last year, along with a set of supporting documents, formally requesting Hasina's extradition. Explaining Hasina's presence in India and its impacts on bilateral relations, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently said this is a ‘judicial legal process’ and it requires ‘engagement and consultations’ between the two governments. ICT-1 sets Nov 13 for verdict in case against Hasina, 2 others "We are examining these issues. We look forward to working together with Bangladesh authorities on these issues," he said while responding to a question during an interaction with the members of Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Beyond that, the Indian Foreign Secretary said, he does not think it would be constructive to say anything further at this point. Hasina fled Bangladesh to India on August 5 last year in the face of massive student-led protests. Bangladesh is waiting for a response from New Delhi. The International Crimes Tribunal will set a date for the verdict in the crimes against humanity case against Hasina and other top officials of her government for their alleged role in suppressing the July Uprising on Nov 13.      

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said there is nothing for anyone to worry about regarding Dhaka’s engagement with Beijing, stressing that Bangladesh maintains a balanced approach in its relations with other countries. “I don’t think there is any reason for concern, since we have maintained a balance. There is nothing for anyone to worry about,” he said when a journalist asked for his comments on concerns expressed by a third country about Bangladesh’s engagement with China. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossain said Bangladesh maintains a balanced policy in its relations with other countries and that there is no question of avoiding relations with any particular nation. “We have deep relations with the United States and extensive economic relations with China,” said the Foreign Affairs Adviser, expressing confidence that Bangladesh will continue to uphold this balanced approach. Hossain also said he believes that future governments will continue to follow this policy. Govt considers HR issues but won’t accept all foreign recommendations: Foreign Adviser Touhid Brent Christensen, nominee for US Ambassador to Bangladesh, on Thursday said if confirmed, he would engage with the Bangladesh government and military to “clearly articulate the risks from Chinese activity, involvement with their military activities in the maritime domain and in their critical infrastructure, as well as highlight the opportunities and benefits that come with a closer partnership with the United States, especially military-to-military. "The United States supports Bangladesh in its journey toward a bright and democratic future," he told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in his opening statement during his nomination hearing. If confirmed, Christensen said, he looks forward to leading the Embassy Dhaka team to build strong ties with both the current interim government and its democratically elected successor to advance the US- Bangladesh relationship. Meeting between Touhid Hossain and Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar underway Responding to another question, Hossain said, “I think Bangladesh receives significant attention in the international arena compared to its size and strength.” “Those who are bigger and stronger than us naturally have greater visibility. But considering our economic and political position, our visibility is not small - we are maintaining our presence everywhere,” he added.

The government of Italy on Tuesday renewed its commitment to Rohingya refugees with a EUR 2.5 million contribution to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, bolstering life-saving assistance and protection in Bangladesh. The fresh funding was granted by Farnesina, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairsand International Cooperation, and its Directorate General for Migration Policies. It will help sustain critical community-based protection programmes and initiatives to prevent gender-based violence and strengthen child protection, and uphold refugee rights through continued registration and documentation, said the UN refugee agency. “Italy remains a steadfast supporter of the Rohingya refugee response,” said IvoFreijsen, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh. “This generous contribution from the Italian people will help meet Rohingya refugees’ most urgent needs and provide vital protection against the challenges and threats of life in the world’slargest refugee camp. Bangladesh, Romania aim for structured political consultations At a time of growing humanitarian strain, community-based protection services are essential to preserving dignity and self-reliance in a fragile setting.” Since the beginning of this dire humanitarian emergency, Antonio Alessandro, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh said Italy has supported the efforts of the international community within the framework of the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, to help ensure dignity for Rohingya refugees, as well as hope for the future. "In this respect, we welcome Bangladesh's commitment to engaging with relevant stakeholders and seeking a solution to this protracted crisis,” he said. Now entering its eighth year, the Rohingya crisis remains one of the world’s mostprotracted refugee situations. Some 1.16 million refugees continue to live in the densely populated camps of Cox’s Bazar and on the island of Bhasan Char, where they are almost entirely reliant on humanitarian assistance for food, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and other basic needs. Among them, an estimated 150,000 Rohingya found safety in the camps since early 2024, after having been forced to flee continuous violence and human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, deepening humanitarian needs in Bangladesh. Italy’s renewed commitment comes as global humanitarian funding continues tofall, forcing aid agencies to make increasingly difficult choices on which needs to meet — and potentially losing hard-won gains in refugee health, well-being and self-reliance.  

Bangladesh and Romania have agreed to work towards establishing a structured political consultation mechanism and explore opportunities for high-level visits and business cooperation. Ambassador of Bangladesh to Romania Shahnaz Gazi paid a courtesy and working visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania recently and met with Ana Cristina Țincă, State Secretary for Strategic Affairs and discussed the issues of mutual interest. The discussions reflected a shared commitment to advancing a new phase of partnership between Bangladesh and Romania. Diana Tașe, Director of the Asia Pacific and Latin America Division, and Mihai Ciompec, Counsellor Plenipotentiary in the same directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania also attended the meeting. The Ambassador was accompanied by Sheikh Kaushik Iqbal, First Secretary of the Embassy of Bangladesh. The meeting focused on strengthening Bangladesh–Romania relations through institutional dialogue, enhanced labour and migration cooperation, educational exchanges, and increased people-to-people connectivity.    

Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Indra Mani Pandey has said addressing climate change is a strategic necessity for peace, stability, and sustainable development, requiring coordinated action at national, regional, and global levels. Highlighting the role of regional cooperation, he noted that the importance of regional organisations such as BIMSTEC cannot be overstated. Speaking at the 7th Berlin Climate and Security Conference 2025, the Secretary General highlighted the adverse impact of climate change on BIMSTEC member States, such as unpredictable climate and weather phenomena, which have implications for realising their goals of food security, health security and human security. The conference, held in Berlin recently, brought together leaders, policymakers and experts from the governments, international organisations and civil society. The Secretary General spoke at a high-level panel on “Beyond Borders: Regional and Plurilateral Climate Security in Action”. The Panel explored how regional organisations and cross-regional alliances can complement multilateral efforts to address the security implications of climate change through context-specific coordinated action. Pandey said BIMSTEC brings together countries that face similar developmental challenges and can find regionally acceptable solutions. He said BIMSTEC’s work complements global multilateral frameworks and contributes directly to collective resilience. The Secretary General elaborated on BIMSTEC’s success in advancing regional cooperation, in particular, in sectors such as disaster management, environment and climate change, mountain economy, energy, agriculture and food security etc. He emphasised BIMSTEC’s growing partnerships with relevant regional and global institutions to strengthen regional climate action. Pandey called for stronger emphasis on adaptation, enhanced access to climate finance and technology, promotion of local and community-based solutions and strengthening of multi-stakeholder partnerships to address climate change-induced security risks. BIMSTEC chief flags climate, disaster challenges to SDGs He reaffirmed BIMSTEC’s commitment to forging meaningful partnerships with non-member States and international organisations to realise a secure, sustainable and climate-resilient future for the region. BIMSTEC comprises seven countries of the Bay of Bengal region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It pursues regional cooperation in seven broad sectors - agriculture and food security; connectivity; environment and climate change; people-to-people contact; science, technology and innovation; security; and trade, investment and development. The cooperation also covers eight sub-sectors - blue economy, mountain economy, energy, disaster management, fisheries and livestock, poverty alleviation, health, and human resource development.    

A delegation from Japan’s National Business Support Combined Cooperatives (NBCC) met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday to brief him on the progress of recruiting 1 lakh skilled workers from Bangladesh. The 23-member delegation met the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna. NBCC, a Japanese business federation of more than 65 companies, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh to help recruit skilled Bangladeshi workers. Under the agreement, a framework has been created for training, certification and employment of Bangladeshi workers in Japan. More than one lakh workers will be recruited over the next five years through programmes such as the Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) and Specified Skilled Workers (SSW). The delegation informed that recruitment of 2,000 skilled workers in the first phase next year is now under process and 6,000 workers will be recruited in 2027 and 18,000 in 2028. They said Japan has a growing demand for skilled workers in the construction, service, aviation, garments and agriculture sectors. Besides,  more workers will be needed in the driving, automobile and recycling sectors in the coming years, said the delegation. Top Japanese entrepreneur to establish driving school in Bangladesh To support recruitment from Bangladesh, training is being provided at two centres — one in Khulna and another in Kapasia, Gazipur. NBCC representatives have already visited both centres. The Chief Adviser asked if there were any shortcomings in the training process. NBCC Chairman Mikio Kesagayama, who led the delegation, said, “I visited the two training centres last March. I was surprised by the progress made in just seven months. We are very satisfied with the training and hopeful that we will be able to recruit 2,000 skilled workers next year.” He added, however, that the language skills of trainers could still be improved. The Chief Adviser said acquiring language skills is a big challenge. “For this, virtual classes can be arranged with teachers from Japan. Bringing Japanese trainers here to train our people can also be considered.” Prof Yunus highlighted the skills and dedication of Bangladeshi women, saying they could play an important role in Japan’s caregiving sector if they receive proper language and professional training. “Although it may seem difficult at first, once Bangladeshi girls learn, they will be able to teach others. Once they start going to Japan, more will follow,” he said. The NBCC delegation said Japan will need more than 400,000 skilled nurses in the coming years and they will consider recruiting more nurses from Bangladesh. Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said the government is closely monitoring the progress of workers’ recruitment in Japan. He said a specific roadmap will be prepared and a special cell has already been formed by the ministry to address related issues.    

Bangladesh and Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday aimed at strengthening cooperation on national standards, with a particular focus on the certification and mutual recognition of halal products. The agreement was inked between the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA) at the NEC conference room during the 9th meeting of the Bangladesh–Pakistan Joint Economic Commission. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed led the Bangladesh delegation while Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum Ali Parvez Malik headed the Pakistani delegation. The MoU was signed by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries Maksudara Noor on behalf of Bangladesh and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider on behalf of Pakistan. Under the MoU, halal-certified products approved by BSTI will be accepted in Pakistan without further testing and conversely, products bearing certification from Pakistan’s PHA will be allowed into Bangladesh without additional verification. Officials said the initiative will ease the export process for halal goods, boost bilateral trade, and deepen economic cooperation between the two South Asian nations. Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said the meeting underscored several areas of mutual interest to enhance cooperation between the two countries. “Efforts are also underway to revitalise SAARC. We hope this partnership will help strengthen people-to-people ties as well,” he added. Pakistan’s Minister Ali Parvez Malik said it would promote mutual trust and facilitate trade in halal-certified products between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Officials from both sides expressed optimism that the accord would open new avenues for halal trade and contribute to expanding the overall scope of bilateral economic relations.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said the EnRICH Project will strengthen flood forecasting and early warning systems in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Cumilla, and Feni from September 2025 to March 2026. She made the remarks on Monday while addressing a national event titled “UK-Bangladesh Collaboration on Ecology-Based Adaptation and Hydro-Met Services” at Pani Bhaban in Dhaka. Appreciating the UK Met Office’s collaboration with RIMES, BWDB, and BMD under the new initiative, Rizwana said, “Our meteorologists often struggle to forecast sudden floods or upstream water surges accurately. Over the next six months, this partnership will enhance our analytical capacity to interpret rainfall and hydrological data more effectively.” “The sustainability of NGO-led projects depends on establishing effective collaboration mechanisms with the government, she added. Highlighting the importance of protecting Haor ecosystems, the adviser said, “If the Haor ecosystem collapses, our food supply will drop. Protecting Haor means protecting the country’s overall ecosystem.” She noted that although the National Haor Master Plan has been finalised, the Haor Development Board still lacks an approved administrative structure, limiting its effectiveness.