United News of Bangladesh

Qatar Charity Bangladesh has launched a month-long humanitarian programme, Vision Initiative 2025. The programme aims at restoring eyesight and improving access to eye care for underprivileged people across the country. The initiative was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Lions Eye Institute and Hospital in Agargaon, Dhaka. Under the initiative, Qatar Charity will organize eye camps in Dhaka, Rangpur, and Khulna divisions. They will offer free eye check-ups, cataract surgeries, and other treatment services for around 2,000 disadvantaged patients. Speaking as the chief guest, Md. Daud Mia, Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau and Additional Secretary to the Chief Advisor’s Office, called the programme “a commendable humanitarian effort” and praised Qatar Charity for contributing to sustainable eye healthcare in remote areas. The event was chaired by Zakarya Ali Al Motair, Country Director of Qatar Charity Bangladesh, who said the organization has been working in Bangladesh for nearly three decades Dhaka condemns Israeli attack on Qatar “Through this initiative, we aim to bring free vision care to thousands across the country. Eye health may seem small, but it can transform a person’s life,” he said. Among others present were Mushin Siddiquey, Country Director of Muslim Aid; K.A.M. Morshed, Senior Director at BRAC; and Md. Golam Kibria, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Health. Officials from the Lions Eye Institute, medical staff, and media representatives also attended the event, which underscored Qatar Charity’s ongoing commitment to supporting the country’s most vulnerable communities.      

A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for abducting and raping a ninth-grade student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in Kamrangirchar. Judge Munshi Md. Mashiar Rahman of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-4 handed down the verdict. Convict Anis Ahmed Neel, 35, was also fined Tk 1 lakh for rape. For the abduction charge, he received 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and an additional Tk 50,000 fine. Public prosecutor Ershad Alam said that as the accused is absconding, the sentence will be enforced once he surrenders or is arrested by police. According to the case statement, Neel initially contacted the victim via Facebook and repeatedly harassed her over time. On October 30, 2017, the girl left home around 2:30 pm to attend a coaching centre but did not return. Her father, who later lodged complaints with the local police station, learned from the coaching teacher that she had not arrived. Further inquiries revealed that at 3:4 pm, while the girl reached Borogram Chairman’s house in Kamrangirchar, Neel and three or four unidentified men forcibly abducted her in a vehicle. Teen dies after alleged rape at Gazipur hotel; two detained Following the incident, the victim’s father filed a case with Kamrangirchar Police Station. After an investigation, police submitted the chargesheet on March 31 next year. The court later framed charges against Neel and recorded testimony from nine witnesses during the trial.

Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Carl Skau has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to mobilising food assistance for 1.3 million Rohingya refugees sheltered in Bangladesh, stressing that the crisis remains one of the top priorities for the Rome-based UN agency. The acting WFP chief made the comments when he called on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday at a hotel in the Italian capital. The meeting focused primarily on the ongoing Rohingya crisis, famine situations in Gaza and Sudan and the growing challenges in mobilizing funds to combat global hunger affecting tens of millions, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Skau praised Prof Yunus for his leadership over the past 15 months, particularly his unwavering efforts to bring international attention back to the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. Both leaders emphasised the urgent need for increased funding to support the Rohingya refugees residing in camps in Bangladesh. FAO DG assures support for Bangladesh’s deep-sea fishing, fruit exports Skau commended the September 30 high-level UN meeting on the Rohingya issue—convened at Professor Yunus’s request—stating that it had successfully “brought international attention back to the crisis.”

FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu has assured continued support to Bangladesh in developing its deep-sea fishing industry and enhancing agricultural exports, particularly in fruits. The commitment came during a bilateral meeting between Dr Qu and Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the World Food Forum and the FAO’s 80th Anniversary celebrations held at the FAO headquarters in Rome. Dr Qu warmly welcomed Professor Yunus, who visited the FAO headquarters to deliver a keynote address at the Forum’s flagship events. During their meeting, the Director-General praised Professor Yunus’ lifelong contributions to agricultural and rural development in Bangladesh. Describing Bangladesh as a 'high-performing country', Dr Qu reaffirmed the FAO’s continued support through technical assistance, innovation, and South–South and Triangular Cooperation, said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. "We will continue to support you," the FAO DG said. Brazilian President Lula plans to visit Bangladesh Prof Yunus expressed gratitude for the FAO’s long-standing support and sought assistance in three emerging areas: developing deep-sea fisheries and fish processing expertise; scaling up fruit exports through improved preservation and processing; and strengthening post-harvest management, including affordable and portable cold storage facilities. “We have a whole ocean, but we only fish in shallow waters. We’ve never fully utilised our maritime resources. Foreign trawlers catch fish in our waters while we remain under-equipped,” Prof Yunus said. In response, Dr Qu suggested Bangladesh consider inviting Chinese experts to help assess its deep-sea fish stocks and develop a sustainable strategy.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed his interest in visiting Bangladesh in the coming months, hoping it would strengthen ties between the two nations. President Lula made the announcement during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the FAO-organised World Food Forum (WFF) flagship event in Rome on Monday, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Both leaders served as keynote speakers at the forum and later held a bilateral meeting at the FAO headquarters to discuss matters of mutual interest, including social business, universal healthcare, social inclusion and strategies to combat poverty. During the meeting, the Chief Adviser formally invited President Lula to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time. President Lula accepted the invitation, expressing his intention to make the trip by February. “I will go to Bangladesh,” he affirmed, adding that Brazil is keen to share its experience in providing universal healthcare for its citizens and to learn from Bangladesh’s pioneering work in social business and microcredit. Prof Yunus lauds Mayor of Rome for supporting Bangladeshi community “That would be fantastic!” Prof Yunus responded. The two leaders also explored opportunities for cooperation in areas such as deep-sea fishing, pharmaceuticals, including the push to make vaccines patent-free and affordable, climate change action ahead of the upcoming COP30 summit, and the recent youth-led uprising in Bangladesh in July 2024. Prof Yunus recalled his earlier engagements in Brazil, including his 2008 meeting with the then-president and his October 2023 tour of major Brazilian cities. President Lula extended an invitation to Prof Yunus to participate in COP30, which will be held in an Amazonian state to draw global attention to the fight to protect the world's largest tropical rainforest. The Chief Adviser thanked President Lula for the invitation, but he noted that he might not attend the COP 30, citing his involvement in preparations for Bangladesh’s upcoming general election, scheduled for the first half of February.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday appreciated the Mayor of Rome for supporting the Bangladeshi community, stating that  their successful cultural integration and contributions both to Italian society and the Bangladeshi economy. "Thank you for taking good care of the Bangladeshi migrants," Prof Muhammad Yunus said during a meeting with the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, at his office. He said the Bangladeshi migrants in Italy are contributing to the host economy and the country back home by sending vital remittances. Djibouti PM meets Chief Adviser, seeks advice on microfinance "They are now culturally integrated here. Many chefs in the top Italian restaurants are from Bangladesh," Prof Yunus said. Mayor Gualtieri also commended the Bangladeshi diaspora for their positive role in Rome’s multicultural landscape, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. He warmly welcomed Prof Yunus to his office, located amidst the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire, dating back to the era of Julius Caesar. From his balcony, he offered the Chief Adviser a brief tour of the historic Roman Senate and surrounding archaeological sites. The Mayor also presented a commemorative plaque to Prof Muhammad Yunus during a meeting at his office. The plaque features a carved image of the Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius and has recently been gifted to several world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. During their bilateral meeting, the two leaders underscored the importance of strengthening cultural ties between Rome and Bangladesh, especially considering the presence of over 50,000 Bangladeshi nationals living in the Italian capital. Their discussions further touched on topics like Bangladesh’s upcoming national election, safe migration and the possibility of a future visit to Bangladesh by the Italian Prime Minister. Also present at the meeting were SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Italy Rokebul Haque.  

Prime Minister of Djibouti Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday on the sidelines of the World Food Forum at the FAO headquarters. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including enhancing bilateral trade and investment, replicating Bangladesh’s successful microfinance model in Djibouti, regional geopolitics and the Rohingya crisis. Prime Minister Mohamed praised Prof Yunus, calling him a well known name in Djibouti, and extended an invitation for him to visit the East African nation. “We need your advice on microfinance,” the Djiboutian leader said, expressing keen interest in adopting microfinance strategies in the majority-Muslim country. In response, Professor Yunus welcomed the interest and suggested that Djibouti send a delegation to Bangladesh to gain hands-on experience with its microfinance institutions. He noted that Bangladeshi microfinance operators offer training throughout the year, which visiting officials could benefit from. Bangladesh-Italy’s economic ties in focus as Meloni mulls Dhaka visit

Highlighting the country’s deep-rooted connection with rivers, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said “for Bangladesh, rivers are not just rivers – they are our lifeblood.” She also called for equitable and cooperative management of shared water resources while addressing the 1st Session of the 6th Joint Meeting of the Working Groups on Integrated Water Resources Management and Monitoring & Assessment of the UN Water Convention, held in Switzerland’s Geneva on Monday. Bangladesh, she noted, is the world’s largest river delta—formed by the Ganges-Padma, Brahmaputra-Jamuna, and Surma-Meghna basins—with over 90 percent of its surface water originating from beyond its borders. As a lower riparian country, Bangladesh strongly advocates for the principles of equitable and reasonable utilization, participation, and no harm in managing transboundary rivers. She informed the session that Bangladesh has made significant progress through bilateral treaties and the establishment of the Joint Rivers Commission, but emphasized that achieving basinwide regional cooperation remains a key policy goal. The Adviser also referred to Bangladesh’s landmark Supreme Court judgment recognizing all rivers as “living entities” with legal personhood, a global example of environmental jurisprudence.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday said they will hold the national election in February and with it, they will institutionalize their commitment to justice and people’s power. Last year, Prof Yunus said, people of Bangladesh rose peacefully to reclaim their power to ensure democracy, peace, and human rights for all. "It was our youth — young people full of courage and hope — who led that movement. Their demand was simple: to give power back to the people. To create a society based on fairness, inclusion, and trust," he said while delivering his keynote speech at the 2025 World Food Forum (WFF). Today, Prof Yunus said those young people are engaged in the rebuilding of their institutions. "They are shaping a new Bangladesh — one that puts its people at the center of governance," he said. A country that feeds its people — and more In Bangladesh, despite its small land area — half of Italy, Prof Yunus said they feed over 170 million people, and also support 1.3 million Rohingyas who fled under violence in Myanmar. "We have become self-sufficient in rice — our staple. We are among the world’s top producers of rice, vegetables, and freshwater fish," he said. The farmers have raised cropping intensity to 214%. Stop wars, end hunger, ensure food access in conflict zones: Prof Yunus tells global leaders "We’ve released 133 climate-resilient rice varieties. We’ve mechanized farming, with subsidies of up to 70%. We’ve built a robust food distribution system. We are reducing stunting. We are diversifying diets. We are greening our agriculture — protecting soil, water, and biodiversity," Prof Yunus said. Earlier, the Global Youth Forum opening ceremony marked the beginning of the 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) flagship week at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), bringing together thousands of young changemakers, government representatives, scientists and partners united in their commitment to build a better food future. “Today is about looking forward, to the future that youth are already shaping,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu in his opening remarks. He praised young people’s determination, noting, “When I look at this generation, I see one that refuses to accept limits.” Encouraging them to take the lead, he added, “I ask you not just to participate, but to lead. Speak boldly. Listen generously. Challenge each other, and lift each other up.” Held under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” this year’s Forum celebrates FAO’s 80th anniversary and emphasizes the importance of working together across generations, sectors and regions to drive progress towards more sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. The theme aligns with FAO’s vision of the Four Betters – Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life – leaving no one behind – the guiding framework for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The opening ceremony featured remarks from Lesego Chombo, Minister for Youth and Gender Affairs, Botswana; Carlos Do Canto Monteiro, Minister for Youth and Sports, Cabo Verde; Víctor Julio Carvajal Porras, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica;; and Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister for Family and Social Services, Türkiye. Prof Yunus receives warm welcome at FAO headquarters Now in its fifth edition, the World Food Forum has evolved into a global, youth-led platform that brings together diverse stakeholders to accelerate action through three interconnected pillars: the Global Youth Action Initiative, the Science and Innovation Forum and the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. By bridging these dimensions, the WFF provides a space for dialogue and collaboration across generations, translating ideas into scalable solutions that contribute to the SDGs. As the WFF week unfolds, participants are engaging in discussions, innovation competitions, capacity building activities and creative showcases that reflect this year’s shared message: only by working “hand in hand” can we achieve better foods and a better future for all. The World Food Forum once again aims to demonstrate that when youth, science, innovation and investment come together, transformation is not only possible – it is already underway.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday urged global leaders to end hunger and wars, proposing six measures to transform the system and ensure global food security amid 2.7 trillion dollars in annual military spending. "While we couldn’t raise a few billion dollars to end hunger, the world spent 2.7 trillion dollars on weapons. Is this how we define progress?," he said while delivering his keynote speech. Prof Yunus called for breaking the hunger–conflict cycle — stop the wars, start the dialogue, and ensure food access in conflict zones. "Keep the promises — fulfill the SDG finance commitments, take climate action seriously, and help the most vulnerable build resilience," said the Chief Adviser. He called for creating regional food banks — to manage shocks and stabilize supply chains. "Create and support local entrepreneurs, particularly youth entrepreneurs — with finance, infrastructure, and global partnerships," Prof Yunus said. He called for ending export bans and said trade rules must support food security, not undermine it. "Ensure access to and development of technology and innovation — especially for the Global South, and to the rural youth, both boys and girls," said Prof Yunus while sharing six steps. The 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) began on October 10 and runs through October 17, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization at its headquarters. Prof Yunus receives warm welcome at FAO headquarters The theme for the week-long event is ‘Hand in Hand for better foods and a better future’, and it focuses on three pillars: Global Youth Action, Science and Innovation, and Hand-In-Hand Investment. The World Food Forum (WFF) is an open and inclusive global platform established by the Youth Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2021 to drive the transformation of agrifood systems through the power of youth, science and innovation, and investment. It brought together stakeholders of all ages and sectors to turn ideas into action, scale solutions and foster meaningful partnerships that accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. QU Dongyu, Director-General of FAO, invited the Chief Adviser. "Eighty years of FAO is not just a celebration. It is a call to prepare — for the future. This year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future”, reminds us: food is not just about calories. It's about dignity. It’s about justice. It’s about the world we want to live in," Prof Yunus said. He said Bangladesh is proud to support global cooperation. "We are a founding member of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Together with FAO and under the G20, we are committed to real, practical support — technical, financial, and moral," said the Chief Adviser. "Now, let us work together — to build a Three-Zero World," he said. Australia appreciates Bangladesh’s transition to inclusive future: Anne Aly The pillars of this forum — Youth, Science, Investment — are not slogans, Prof Yunus said, adding thst they are the tools they need to transform their food systems and societies. He said today’s world has resources and it has technology. "It will have more mind-boggling technology. But we need the creative ideas to use this technology with appropriate business format to create a new world. If we can imagine it, we can create it." Prof Yunus said last year, people of Bangladesh rose peacefully to reclaim their power to ensure democracy, peace, and human rights for all. It was our youth — young people full of courage and hope — who led that movement. "Their demand was simple: to give power back to the people. To create a society based on fairness, inclusion, and trust," he said. Prof Yunus said he is very happy that the Nobel Peace Laureates alliance for Food Security and Peace which was established by FAO in 2016 and of which he is a member has been recognized as an FAO milestone. "I hope it will continue to create more milestones," Prof Yunus said. "But let us speak the truth clearly: Hunger is not caused by scarcity. It is caused by the failure of the economic framework that we have designed. In 2024, 673 million people went hungry," the Chief Adviser said. "Yet we produce more than enough food. This is not a failure of production — it’s a failure of the economic system. It’s a moral failure," he said. Prof Yunus said they must go deeper, and rethink the entire economic system. Prof Yunus urges IFAD to create Social Business Fund for young agri-entrepreneurs in Bangladesh "The old way —which is based on profit-maximising business, — has left billions behind. We need to add a new kind of business — social business, business without personal profit, — that solves problems, not creates them, by creating sustainable businesses," he said. Many social businesses are growing around the world but without policy support and institutional recognition, he said. "Ultimate objective is to create a ‘Three-Zero World’: A world with Zero Wealth Concentration to end Poverty; Zero Unemployment, by replacing it with entrepreneurship for all and Zero Net Carbon Emissions," he said. This is not a dream, Prof Yunus said. "It is a necessity, the only way to save the world." Prof Yunus said Social business is the way forward. "We’ve seen its power in Bangladesh. Grameen Bank showed how poor women can be powerful entrepreneurs." He said they must create social business funds — to support young entrepreneurs, women, farmers, agri-business creators and technology developers. "We must build legal and financial frameworks to support this kind of entrepreneurship — not stand in its way," Prof Yunus said. "And this brings me to the most important part: our youth. Today’s young people are not like before. They are connected. They are creative. They have technology in their hands that was unthinkable just 20 years ago," he added. Prof Yunus said, "Let’s not tell them to wait for jobs. Let’s empower them to create jobs. Let’s tell them: you are not job-seekers — you are job creators." Prof Yunus arrives in Rome to attend FAO’s World Food Forum He also said, "Let us give them access to capital — by creating investment funds and social business funds. Let us help create agri-innovation hubs. Let us support agri-tech, circular food systems, climate-smart enterprises — all can be led by the youth." Prof Yunus said if they invest in youth, they will not only feed the world, they change the world.