United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s acting High Commissioner to Canada Dewan Hossne Ayub has said that the six-point Movement was a turning point in the history, igniting the flame of resistance and determination among the Bengali people. “It laid the foundation for our struggle for independence, leading to the birth of a free and sovereign Bangladesh. We owe our freedom to the visionary leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the sacrifices of countless patriots,” he said. Dewan urged everyone to disseminate the historic significance of this day among the new generations of Bangladeshis living in Canada. Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa observed the historic Six-Point Movement in a befitting manner. A special discussion event was organized at the auditorium of the High Commission which was attended by officers and officials of the High Commission. At the beginning of the program, acting High Commissioner laid a floral wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This was followed by the reading out of special messages from the President and the Prime Minister sent from Dhaka, highlighting the significance of this special day. A special documentary was also screened. During the discussion, speakers shed light on the context and historical significance of the days leading up to the Liberation War. They emphasized the pivotal role of the Six-Point Movement in uniting the Bengali nation and its contribution to the eventual independence of Bangladesh. In his concluding remarks, the acting High Commissioner paid great tribute to the memory of Bangabandhu and the three million martyrs. He mentioned that on this day, 07 June 1966, during a hartal called by the Awami League to demand the charter of liberation for Bengalis, the Six-Point Movement, the then Pakistani police opened fire on unarmed civilians, resulting in the martyrdom of 11 Bengalis.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today set foot in New Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Council of Ministers. As the first “distinguished” guest, PM Hasina was warmly received by India as she arrived in New Delhi. "This visit of one of our most valued partners will further strengthen Bangladesh-India close and deep-rooted bonds of friendship," said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday. The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in keeping with the highest priority accorded by India to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision, said MEA. The oath-taking of Prime Minister Modi and the Council of Ministers following the general elections 2024 is scheduled to be held on Sunday. On the occasion, leaders from India’s neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have been cordially invited as "distinguished" guests. President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’; and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay, have accepted the invitation to attend. In addition to participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will attend a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the same evening. She will leave New Delhi for home on Monday, and she is scheduled to reach Dhaka at 8pm.

Forty-five Bangladeshi nationals are expected to reach Cox’s Bazar from Myanmar early Sunday by Myanmar Naval Ship UMS Chin Dwin. They are scheduled to leave for Bangladesh on Saturday from Sittwe in Rakhine State of Myanmar. Most of them are from Cox’s Bazaar, Narshingdi and Narayanganj districts of Bangladesh. Rohingyas: Dhaka seeks Beijing’s engagement with Myanmar for early repatriation Myanmar Naval Ship UMS Chin Dwin’ is coming to Bangladesh to bring back members of Myanmar defence force who were forced to cross the border into Bangladesh due to conflict in Rakhine state, according to Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar. Due to steadfast efforts of Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon and Bangladesh Consulate in Sittwe, it has become possible to send another batch of Bangladeshi nationals to their families back home, said the Bangladesh Embassy. In last one year, Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar actively pursued coordinated return of 247 Bangladeshi nationals back home. US, UK, EU call on all States to prevent or to cease flow of arms, aviation fuel to Myanmar The last and the return took place on 23 April 2023 when 173 Bangladeshis returned home. Representatives of Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon and Bangladesh Consulate, Sittwe were physically present to coordinate with the local authorities, conduct verification process and issue Travel Permits in favour of the returnees.  

The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in keeping with the highest priority accorded by India to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision, said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday. The oath taking of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers following the general elections 2024 is scheduled to be held on Sunday. On the occasion, leaders from India’s neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have been cordially invited as "distinguished" guests. President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’; and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay, have accepted the invitation to attend, MEA said. PM Hasina congratulates Modi on election win In addition to participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will attend a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the same evening. India's Modi prepares for record 3rd term as nations congratulate his government on election victory A Biman Bangladesh airlines flight carrying the prime minister and her entourage members is scheduled to land at Palam Air Force Station, the VVIP airport in New Delhi at 12pm (local time) on Saturday. The prime minister will be received by a high-level Indian degation and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md. Mustafizur Rahman at the airport. During her stay in New Delhi, the prime minister will hold a tete-a-tete with her Indian counterpart Modi after joining the swearing-in at Rashtrapati Bhaban at 7:20pm on Sunday She will leave New Delhi for home on Monday and she is scheduled to reach Dhaka at 8pm.    

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has said the United States is working at home and abroad to advance marine protected areas and reach the global 30×30 goal to conserve or protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030.  "Through the Ocean Conservation Pledge, we encourage countries to achieve 30×30 in their own waters," he said in a message marking the World Ocean Day that falls on June 8.  The US called on all countries, organizations, and individuals to join them in taking bold actions to protect ocean.  "Together, we can ensure a sustainable future for our planet, safeguard marine biodiversity, and secure the livelihoods of communities that depend on a healthy ocean," Blinken said. With the new High Seas Treaty, countries will have a way to work together to establish marine protected areas in places beyond national jurisdiction – a critical part of their collective efforts to safeguard the health and resilience of our ocean, he said. Recognizing the impacts of climate change on ocean, including sea level rise, ocean warming, and acidification, Blinken said, they are taking decisive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support ocean-based climate solutions.  "We are supporting initiatives to enhance the resilience of coastal communities and marine ecosystems through President Biden’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience and collaborating with island and coastal communities to implement adaptation measures like early warning systems," he said. The Secretary of State said they are actively working to tackle the challenge of plastic pollution in the marine environment and are promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture – central to food security and economic development around the world – while working to combat the challenge of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.  "We are also putting the ocean at the center of our Atlantic diplomacy with the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, collaborating with 38 coastal countries to promote and support sustainable blue economies, marine conservation, and scientific capacity building and exchange," he mentioned. Joining the global community in celebrating World Ocean Day, the United States reaffirmed its dedication to safeguarding the ocean through concrete actions and international cooperation.  "We must seek ambitious and innovative solutions now if we are to tackle the many challenges facing coastal communities and marine ecosystems," Blinken said. Meanwhile, in a joint statement, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius said, "Oceans are vital for life on Earth, playing a crucial role in climate regulation, providing more oxygen than all forests combined and being paramount in addressing pressing global challenges, such as food security, energy and fast-tracking green transition" Ocean temperatures, however, have never been higher and marine life is disappearing at an unprecedented pace, putting the world at risk, they said. "Our oceans, functioning as our planet's greatest carbon sink, cannot wait for the reversal of dramatic developments, and neither can we," reads the joint statement. On 19 June 2023, a historic Agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in the high seas, known as the BBNJ Agreement, was adopted. With the European Parliament's vote on 24 April, the EU is one step closer to the Agreement's ratification. "The task ahead is now to reach the number of sixty ratifications of the Agreement for it to enter into force and we can proceed to its effective implementation. Our objective is to make this happen by the June 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in France," they said. "The EU is taking action. Ocean sustainability is a priority of the EU's green diplomacy," they mentioned. At the 9th Our Ocean Conference held in Greece, earlier this year, the EU made 40 new commitments for a safe, secure, clean, healthy and sustainably managed ocean adding up to some €3.5 billion from various EU funds, the highest EU contribution since the start of the Our Ocean Conferences a decade ago. "Our engagement remains rooted on the principles of dialogue, partnership and solidarity with our partners around the globe," they said. Looking ahead, strengthening the nexus between oceans and climate change remains a priority for the EU, according to the joint statement. The EU also seeks to expand the scope of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean and advocates for an ambitious outcome of the negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. "Protecting our oceans is a shared responsibility and only the implementation of global solutions, such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the BBNJ Agreement, can contribute to this," they said.

 During her inaugural visit to Bangladesh, Kate Forbes, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), pledged ongoing humanitarian support amidst global crises. She emphasized the necessity of sustained assistance, particularly in light of recent challenges such as a severe heatwave and Cyclone Remal. Forbes met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who expressed gratitude for the Bangladesh Red Crescent’s disaster response efforts. Forbes reaffirmed the IFRC’s commitment to continuous support, including aid for displaced people from Myanmar's Rakhine State. In discussions with Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Forbes addressed the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and the humanitarian efforts in Cox’s Bazar camps. She also conferred with Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen, State Minister Dr. Rokeya Sultana, and State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md. Mohibbur Rahman about strategies to combat climate change impacts and enhance disaster and pandemic preparedness. “My visit to Bangladesh has been profoundly enlightening. The work of the Bangladesh Red Crescent not only strengthens vulnerable communities but also saves lives through disaster risk reduction and community resilience efforts,” Forbes stated. Forbes visited Khulna and Cox’s Bazar camps, witnessing the distribution of household items, clean water, and healthcare to Cyclone Remal-affected communities and camp residents. She praised the Red Crescent youth and community volunteers and highlighted the role of the newly inaugurated Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) at the National Headquarters of Bangladesh Red Crescent in improving disaster response capabilities. She also toured the Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital. Professor Dr. M.U. Kabir Chowdhury, Chairman of BDRCS, said, "We are committed to reinforcing our disaster response mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable in our society. Through IFRC and international support, we can enhance our anticipatory actions, ensuring our preparedness saves lives and restores hope. We are also dedicated to achieving financial sustainability to bolster our humanitarian efforts." Forbes reiterated the IFRC’s dedication to innovative, sustainable solutions in meetings with various stakeholders and partners. These discussions were supported by IFRC's Asia Pacific Regional Director Alexander Mathew, Bangladesh Head of Delegation Alberto Bocanegra, and Bangladesh Red Crescent’s Vice Chairman Lutfur Rahman Chowdhury Helal, Treasurer Mohammad Abdus Salam, Secretary General Kazi Shofiqul Azam, and Deputy Secretary General Sultan Ahmed.

The Russian House in Dhaka in cooperation with Dhaka University and Keraniganj College yesterday night organized a literary programme dedicated to the 225th birth anniversary of Alexander Pushkin and the International Russian Language Day. The programme was opened by laying flowers at the Pushkin's monument at the University of Dhaka in honour of the 225th anniversary of A. Pushkin and recited the poet's famous poems by the students. The Director of the Russian House in Dhaka presented the greeting letter from Sergei Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on the occasion of Russian Language Day. Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, Professor A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, congratulated all presents on the 225th birth anniversary A.S. Pushkin. After laying flowers at the University of Dhaka, Keranigonje College hosted the grand opening of a photo exhibition named "Alexander Pushkin. Life and destiny. On the 225th anniversary of his birth." The director of the Russian House in Dhaka Pavel Dvoychenkov in his opening speech at Keraniganje College spoke about the life and works of the great poet and founder of the modern Russian literary language A.S. Pushkin. During the event, students of Russian language courses at the Russian House in Dhaka showed a presentation about the greatest Russian poet, prose and playwrighter A.S. Pushkin, after that students recited the most famous poems of the poet in Russian, Bengali and English languages, as well as they performed a novel in verse "Eugene Onegin". June 6, 1799 - Sasha Pushkin was born in Moscow. In Soviet times, this holiday was celebrated as the Pushkin Poetry Festival. The event always attracted public attention and even in Stalin times it was accompanied by ceremonial events. Pushkin's poems are the richest cultural heritage presented to the world. The literary work of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin is priceless. His works unite people of all ages, religions, nationalities, translated into dozens of languages of the world. No matter how difficult his works are for translation, the poet has admirers in almost all corners of the world. After the presentation and reciting of poems by the college students, a cultural program was held dedicated to the birthday of the great poet. In the second part of the event, a screening of the animated series “Pushkin and... Mikhailovskoe” was organized for college students. The Pushkin Poetry Festival currently has "All-Russian" status. The poet’s birthday received state status in 1997 according to Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 506. On the 200th birth anniversary of A.S. Pushkin was established "Pushkin Day in Russia."  

Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, has been elected unanimously as the Chair of the Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly for the upcoming 79th Session of the General Assembly. Elections were held today at the UN Headquarters in New York. “This is a recognition of Bangladesh’s unique success in achieving sustainable development through innovative means under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a demonstration of the trust and confidence that Bangladesh enjoys in the international arena,” said Ambassador Muhith while addressing the General Assembly after being elected. He said Bangladesh's leadership in guiding discussions and consensus-building within the Second Committee enables the country to contribute significantly to shaping global policies and initiatives; and advancing its interests and development objectives at the global stage. The Second Committee is one of the most critical bodies of the United Nations addressing economic, financial, and environmental affairs and focusing on macroeconomic policy, international trade and development, poverty eradication, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, climate change, UN operational activities, South-South Cooperation, special situations for certain countries, agricultural development, food security, and information and communications technologies for development. A career diplomat, Ambassador Muhith joined as Bangladesh’s PR to the UN in July 2022. He is currently serving as the President of Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS for 2024, leading three of the United Nations' most critical agencies. Ambassador Muhith also served as the Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission in 2022, vice-chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission in 2023, the President of the Executive Board of UN-Women and the Vice-President of the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS.  

The Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo organized a seminar on “Trade, Investment and Human Resources” at the Bangabandhu auditorium on Friday. The event attracted nearly 80 participants, including representatives from Japanese companies and manpower recruiting organizations, according to a press release. In his welcome address, Ambassador Shahabuddin Ahmed encouraged Japanese business leaders and investors to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh. He highlighted sectors such as the garment industry, leather, jute, light engineering, information technology, Economic Zones, Hi-Tech Parks, and Export Processing Zones as ripe for investment. The Ambassador emphasized that the relationship between Bangladesh and Japan has been upgraded to a ‘Strategic Partnership,’ enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields, particularly trade, investment, and human resource recruitment. Noting Japan's declining population, he urged Japanese manpower agencies to consider recruiting workers from Bangladesh. Hitoshi Kanamori, CEO of IM Japan and co-organizer of the seminar, expressed his commitment to sourcing more human resources from Bangladesh. Business leaders such as Kiminobu Hiraishi, President of Maruhisa Co. Ltd., and Dr. Beh Teik Jun, Clinical Strategy Director of Remedy & Company Corporation, shared their positive experiences of operating in Bangladesh. Yuji Ando, JETRO Dhaka Country Representative, delivered a video presentation outlining the business environment in Bangladesh and the potential for Japanese enterprises. Dr. Ariful Haque, Minister (Commerce) at the Embassy, detailed the trade and investment opportunities available in Bangladesh, along with the support services provided by the Embassy to Japanese investors. Md. Zoynal Abedin, First Secretary (Labour) of the Embassy, presented on the topic ‘Bangladesh: A Highly Potential Source Country of Skilled Human Resources for Japan.’ The seminar also featured a presentation by Dr. Mohammad Shah Alam, Chief of International Affairs Department of IM Japan, who discussed case studies on the successful acceptance of technical interns from Bangladesh. The event saw active participation from Japanese entities and embassy officials, reflecting the growing interest and collaboration between Japan and Bangladesh in trade, investment, and human resources.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a full-fledged bilateral visit to New Delhi, India separately at a mutually convenient time which is likely to see signing of a number of agreements and MoUs and some important announcements. “We’re working on a separate visit. The current one is more of a ceremonial visit, marking a special occasion. We’ll work on a schedule later,” Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said while talking to a small group of reporters on the sidelines of a function on Thursday night. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave for New Delhi on Saturday to attend her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s swearing-in at his invitation. Initially, the ceremony was scheduled to take place on June 8 and now it will be held on June 9. “The main inauguration will be held on June 9 evening and our Prime Minister is likely to reach New Delhi on Saturday afternoon. She will join the main inauguration,” said the Foreign Secretary. World leaders including Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal are set to attend the function, which will record a presence of over 8,000 dignitaries. Responding to a question, the Foreign Secretary said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to have tete-a-tete with the leaders including Narendra Modi. He said during the bilateral visit which will take place separately later the two countries are scheduled to sign a number of MoUs and agreements. “There is an issue of making announcement on some areas of cooperation. We’ll work on that.” Bangladesh's friendship is with Indian Government, not with any particular party or individual: Quader Masud said there is a new government in Bangladesh and a new government will be formed in India. “There will be continuity of the relations and we expect to see some new initiatives in our relations.” Earlier, PM's speechwriter, M Nazrul Islam, confirmed UNB her joining in the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Sunday (June 9). She will return home on June 10, he added. Modi will take oath as the prime minister of India for the historic third term in a row on June 9 after his BJP-led NDA alliance won 293 seats in the elections for 543-member Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian parliament. Earlier, Modi invited Hasina to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his government, and she accepted the invitation. Modi has thanked PM Hasina for her warm wishes following his election victory. PM Hasina was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Modi, reflecting the warmth and personal rapport between the two leaders. "India and Bangladesh share historic relations, which have seen unprecedented growth in the last decade," Modi said. In a message shared through X, Modi said he looks forward to working together to further strengthen the people-centric partnership between Bangladesh and India. India extending full support to Bangladesh regarding Anar case: MEA Spokesperson Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated Narendra Modi on the resounding victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Lok Sabha election. "As the leader of the largest democracy in the world, you carry the hopes and aspirations of the people of India," she said. Modi received a congratulatory telephone call from Sheikh Hasina for the victory of NDA, according to the Press Information Bureau of India. The two leaders pledged to continue working together to further deepen the historic and close ties under the renewed mandate towards achieving Viksit Bharat 2047 and Smart Bangladesh 2041. They acknowledged the significant improvements achieved in the lives of the people of both countries in the last decade and looked forward to further enhancing the transformative relationship across all domains that include economic and development partnership, energy security, connectivity including digital linkages and people-to-people contacts among others. Contributing to peace in India’s northeast: PM Hasina highlights efforts to halt arms smuggling PM Narendra Modi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday and tendered his resignation along with the Union council of ministers.