United News of Bangladesh

A business delegation from Bangladesh’s maritime and shipbuilding industry has visited the Bangladesh Embassy in Algiers on Monday and met with Md. Najmul Huda, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Algeria, at the chancery. The 10-member team, led by Engr. Mohammed Abdur Rashid, Managing Director of Karnafuly Ship Builders Ltd., is on a visit to Algeria to explore opportunities for collaboration in the shipbuilding sector between the two countries. Ambassador Huda welcomed the delegation and discussed prospects for strengthening economic ties between Bangladesh and Algeria. He lauded Karnafuly Ship Builders Ltd. for taking the initiative to explore new partnerships and share ideas with relevant Algerian stakeholders during their visit, said a media release on Tuesday. Algerian Embassy in Dhaka commemorates ‘National Mujahid Day’ The delegation will highlight Bangladesh’s advanced capabilities in the maritime sector and the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, particularly in heavy industry. During the meeting, the team also presented a video showcasing Karnafuly Ship Builders’ achievements and ongoing projects, expressing optimism that their strong credentials will help expand Bangladesh’s international footprint in shipbuilding. The delegation is scheduled to meet with Algeria’s Minister of Transport, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Director General of the Investment Promotion Authority, and officials from Ecorep Shipbuilding Yard, among others, during their visit.

The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has dismissed as baseless and misleading the recent social media posts claiming that Qatar has stopped issuing visas for Bangladeshi workers. In a statement issued Tuesday night, the ministry said it has noticed several online posts and videos alleging that “Qatar is no longer granting visas to Bangladeshi workers,” which it described as false and ill-motivated propaganda. “The ministry believes such misinformation is a deliberate attempt to confuse and mislead the public,” the statement said, urging everyone to refrain from spreading or believing such rumours. The ministry also clarified that the Qatari labour market remains open and fully operational for Bangladeshi workers.  From September 2024 to September 2025, a total of 111,662 Bangladeshi workers have been sent to Qatar, and the deployment continues. Dhaka condemns Israeli attack on Qatar Currently, 425,681 Bangladeshi nationals are working in the Gulf nation, according to official data. The ministry said misleading information is also being circulated regarding so-called “free visas” for Qatar. “In reality, there is no such thing as a ‘free visa’ in the Qatari visa system,” it said. It urged all stakeholders and job seekers to remain cautious and rely only on verified information from official sources.  

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said while the government takes human rights concerns into account, it cannot accept every recommendation made by international rights organisations. "Of course, we take it into consideration and the government does whatever is possible when any concern comes about any human rights issue…. it will never be possible for the government to accept everything they say,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing that everyone will do their own work and that is what they think. The Foreign Adviser made the remarks when a journalist drew his attention regarding the joint letter by the six international human rights bodies to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, urging him to expand human rights protections and ensure Bangladesh has the strong institutions needed to guarantee “free and fair elections” and “guard against future backsliding.” The journalist also drew his attention to the organisations’ call for ending the broad ban on Awami League activities under the Anti-Terrorism Act which “excessively restricts freedom of association, assembly, and expression and has been used to arrest Awami League members and perceived supporters” engaged in peaceful activities. Asked about the government's position on this, the Foreign Affairs Adviser said not everyone has the same perspective. “Everyone speaks from their own perspective. The government has to take many things into consideration and work. I think we will look at it this way,” Hossain said. Responding to a question about whether the government will react to the letter from the six international human rights organisations, the Foreign Affairs Adviser said they (rights bodies) have given their observations. “We will work according to our situation. If at any stage they have any objections to any issue or they want a specific answer from us, they will definitely let us know,” he added. “We are deeply concerned that the security sector remains largely unreformed and that the members of security forces have not been fully cooperative with accountability and reform efforts,” said the Human Rights Watch, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, CIVICUS, Committee to Protect Journalists, Fortify Rights and Tech Global Institute in a joint letter to the Chief Adviser.   The Human Rights Watch (HRW) made the letter public on October 19. The organisations called for ensuring press freedom and protecting journalists from arbitrary arrests and detention, regardless of perceived political affiliation, particularly where charges lack credible evidence or violate freedom of expression or other rights. “We urge the interim government to protect journalists from harassment and violence from both state and non-state actors and pursue prompt, independent investigations into any attacks, while implementing the recommendations outlined by the Media Reform Commission that align with international standards for press freedom,” the letter reads.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday conveyed to the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) that Bangladesh is on track for a ‘peaceful and inclusive’ election, noting that this is going to be a lifetime experience for so many young people. “Half the population of the country is under 27. They will vote for the first time in their life. We want to make sure they are satisfied. We will have a peaceful and festive voting,” said the Chief Adviser when a delegation from the IRI met him at the state guest house Jamuna. The delegation confirmed that the IRI will send at least 10 international observers for Bangladesh’s national election in February. "We will have robust election observation in February," said delegation head Christopher J. Fussner, Member of the Board of Directors of IRI. He said deployment of election observers would help mitigate chances of violence during the vote. Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS); Jessica Keegan, Technical Expert on Democratic Elections and Political Processes at IRI; Steve Cima, Resident Program Director at IRI; and Jami Spykerman, Program Director at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) were present at the meeting. SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed was also present. The team is currently visiting Bangladesh to assess the pre-election environment and is scheduled to meet with all major political parties. IRI delegation meets BNP, discusses upcoming election During the meeting, the delegation shared insights from their previous election observations and exchanged views with the Chief Adviser on electoral reforms. They expressed optimism about the current political atmosphere, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Fussner praised the prevailing atmosphere for the general election in Bangladesh. "All parties want an election. From our experience of the previous election, we can see a positive atmosphere, which feels really good. We could tell the difference between the previous election and this election,” Fussner said. The delegation said it is important to include local observers from civil society, such as student groups, to make the election more transparent. They also talked about the dangers of false information during elections. The Chief Adviser said disinformation is a serious problem. “The biggest threat to democracy today is disinformation. It’s well-planned, well-funded and creates tension immediately. By the time the truth comes out, people have already reacted,” he said. Christopher J. Fussner also raised concerns about the use of artificial intelligence to fabricate images and manipulate public opinion. Prof Yunus underscored the significance of the July Charter as a unique milestone for the country's democratic journey, noting that all political parties have shown their commitment to reform. “This puts us another step ahead of the election,” he said, adding that most parties have signed the charter and hoped that others would do very soon. The IRI delegates lauded the leadership of Prof Yunus over the last 15 months. "You are doing a great job during the transition," one delegate said. "Everything you have done is absolutely remarkable," said another delegate. The IRI, a non-profit, non-partisan organisation dedicated to advancing democracy and freedom globally, is now assessing the electoral environment in advance of the February 2026 parliamentary elections. The IRI team deployed its pre-election assessment mission to Bangladesh from October 20 and they will continue to engage until October 23. US-based IRI assessing environment ahead of Feb polls 

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday affirmed that only one agreement under the Indian Line of Credit (LoC) with India was cancelled, disagreeing with what his colleague Adviser Asif Mahmud shared from his verified Facebook account. “Probably, he could have avoided this,” he said, noting that someone circulated the list and a member of the Council of Advisers re-shared it with a comment. Earlier, LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain shared the list, claiming 10 agreements signed with India during Sheikh Hasina’s regime were cancelled while the rest are under consideration. “The discussion began since the interim government assumed the responsibility and this decision has been taken following due review,” Adviser Asif commented sharing the list from his verified Facebook page. When Foreign Adviser Hossain’s attention was drawn, he said the list that has come is not correct and most of the deals mentioned in the list do not even exist. “I don’t want to make any comment,” Hossain said when pressed for whether it reflects the lack of coordination among the Advisers. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Adviser clarified the whole issue, reading out a list of the agreements, of which some are under further review. The Adviser also mentioned that some of the agreements that came into discussion through social media posts do not even exist. Hasina’s extradition: No positive response from India yet, says Touhid

Bangladesh and Germany have discussed ‘bilateral and regional strategies’ to tackle non-traditional challenges like effects of climate change, water scarcity and global health threats. From October 17 to 21, a delegation of leadership representatives from various areas in Germany, including government, private sector, civil society and academia, organised by the Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik (BAKS, Federal Academy for Security Policy) visited Bangladesh with the aims to strengthen ties between Germany and Bangladesh are exploring opportunities for mutual development in areas of shared interest. This visit underscored the commitment of both nations to fostering dialogue, understanding, and cooperation across diverse fields, said the Embassy of Germany on Tuesday. The BAKS is dedicated to providing interdisciplinary training and fostering dialogue on security policy issues. It serves as a platform for exchanging ideas among policymakers, academics and practitioners, contributing to Germany's comprehensive approach to security and international cooperation. During their visit, the delegation travelled to Cox's Bazar, where they visited Rohingya refugee camps and engaged with relevant stakeholders to better understand the humanitarian challenges and ongoing efforts in the region. They also had a discussion with Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Bilateral) from Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on bilateral and regional strategies to tackle non-traditional challenges like effects of climate change, water scarcity and global health threats. Additionally, the delegation explored Bangladesh's textile industry through a programme organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), gaining insights into sustainable practices in one of the country's key economic sectors. To deepen their understanding of Bangladesh's history, culture, and political landscape, the group toured Old Dhaka, Dhaka University, and the National Parliament, reflecting on the significance of these sites in the context of the 2024 mass uprising.

The International Republican Institute (IRI), a non-profit, non-partisan organisation dedicated to advancing democracy and freedom globally, is now assessing the electoral environment in advance of the February 2026 parliamentary elections.  The IRI team deployed its pre-election assessment mission to Bangladesh from October 20 and they will continue to engage until October 23. This high-level mission, comprised of international policy and elections experts, arrived in Dhaka on October 20 to meet with a broad range of stakeholders, including the Bangladesh Election Commission, political parties, government officials, and civil society organisations from across the Bangladeshi political spectrum and examine issues central to electoral competitiveness and civic engagement. “This mission underscores IRI’s commitment to supporting democratic processes in Bangladesh,” said Johanna Kao, IRI’s Senior Director for Asia-Pacific in a statement.  “We look forward to engaging with stakeholders and assessing the state of the electoral environment.” Bangladesh delegation reaches South Korea on a five-day visit Following the conclusion of the mission, IRI will release a statement offering an impartial assessment of the readiness for February’s elections and recommendations for maintaining electoral integrity and fostering a peaceful electoral environment. Since 1984, IRI has organized over 250 international election observation missions worldwide, earning a reputation for objectivity and professionalism.  The mission will conduct its activities in accordance with the laws of Bangladesh and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and the Code of Conduct adopted by the United Nations in 2005.  All activities will be conducted on a strictly non-partisan basis and without interfering in the electoral process. The IRI team met with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday afternoon at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey has highlighted the challenges faced by BIMSTEC member States in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amidst climate change, biodiversity loss and recurrent natural disasters. He outlined BIMSTEC’s progress in regional cooperation in environment, mountain economy, disaster management and energy sectors. The Secretary General, who participated in the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently, stressed the importance of partnerships with BIMSTEC to safeguard the ecosystems in Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal. Considered as the world’s premier conservation event, the Congress brought together governments, scientists, development partners, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders worldwide to deliberate and commit to action on biodiversity, climate change, nature-based solutions and sustainable development, said the BIMSTEC headquarters on Monday. The Secretary General addressed the high-level session on “Harnessing Rivers for Peace and Prosperity: Cooperative Approaches to Resource Governance”. He delivered opening remarks at “Glaciers for the Future: Global Partnership for Glacier and Post-Glacier Ecosystem Resilience,” and closing remarks at “The Freshwater Challenge: Accelerating Freshwater Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration.” On the sidelines, the Secretary General held meetings with Grethel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN; Dr. Dindo Campilan, Regional Director, Asia and Oceania, IUCN; Henry Gonzalez, Chief Investment Officer of the Green Climate Fund (GCF); Lorenzo Santucci, Chief of Environment and Development Policy at UNESCAP; Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP; Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Secretary to United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF); Dr Sandeep Sengupta, Global Policy Lead on Climate Change, IUCN; and Yoko Watanabe, Director (Environment), Asian Development Bank (ADB). The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in areas such as climate finance, biodiversity protection, resilience building, and regional adaptation strategies. The Secretary General expressed BIMSTEC’s readiness to deepen collaboration with IUCN and other global institutions, reaffirming the organization’s role as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia to strengthen adaptation, resilience and sustainable development in the Bay of Bengal region. BIMSTEC comprises seven countries of the Bay of Bengal region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. BIMSTEC promotes trade and cooperation for Indo-Pacific security 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 Bangladesh delegation, led by Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), arrived in the Republic of Korea on a five-day visit, said a press released. The visit comes with a mission to boost foreign direct investment in Bangladesh. The delegation includes senior representatives from key government agencies—the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), and the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The mission is being facilitated with technical support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. During the visit, the team is expected to meet Korean businesses to explore investment opportunities in sectors such as electronics, shipbuilding, power generation, textiles, chemicals, and heavy construction. South Korean President seeks deeper engagements with Bangladesh The delegation will also hold Government-to-Government (G2G) discussions on issues such as the proposed Korea-Bangladesh Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and recent trade policy developments. The delegation will also take part in institutional capacity-building activities supported by IFC, focused on enhancing BIDA’s ability to deliver world-class investment promotion and investor facilitation services, the press release said.  

The Republic of Korea on Monday reaffirmed its support to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, for critical humanitarian assistance and protection for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, with a contribution of USD 5 million to strengthen disability inclusion and protection efforts, as well as provide essential gas for cooking. “This generous contributionfrom the Republic of Korea comes at a crucial time, when the needs and vulnerabilities of Rohingya refugees continue to rise, especially for those with disabilities,” said Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh. Amid devastating cuts to life-saving aid, he said, they are most grateful for the steadfast support of the people and Government of Korea, which enables us to address critical needs and uphold refugees’ dignity and well-being in an increasingly uncertain time. Eight years since their large-scale exodus from Myanmar in August 2017, over 1.16million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char remain dependenton humanitarian assistance to meet their daily needs. Since early 2024, renewed violence and human rights abuses in Myanmar’s Rakhine state have forced an additional 150,000 refugees to flee.