United News of Bangladesh

Speakers at a national dialogue have underscored the urgency of strengthening Bangladesh’s trade negotiation capacity as the country prepares to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category in 2026. They emphasised that building a skilled pool of trade negotiators is crucial for sustaining export growth, diversifying markets, and safeguarding Bangladesh’s interests in an increasingly competitive global trading system. The dialogue, ‘Reflections & Way Forward: Building National Capabilities in Trade Negotiations’, was organised on Sunday by the Ministry of Commerce with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP), financed by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Speaking at the event, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin called for institutionalising trade negotiation capacity, stating, “As Bangladesh prepares to graduate from LDC status, the Trade Negotiation School will be vital in equipping our negotiators to secure the nation’s interests in a complex global trade landscape.” Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi said, “Trade negotiations cannot be approached casually. They demand institutional change, specialist expertise, authority, and continuity to succeed.” British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke reaffirmed the UK’s partnership with Bangladesh.  “The UK is proud to support Bangladesh to build a new generation of trade negotiators, and we remain firmly committed to supporting its journey toward a modern, inclusive economy," she said. Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh Stefan Liller stressed that Bangladesh’s graduation is “a call for an economic reset.” He said Bangladesh must craft a new generation of trade and investment strategies, negotiate favourable agreements, and defend its interests in global forums. "Central to this effort is a skilled and strategic team of trade negotiators, and I’m delighted the Ministry of Commerce has established such a pool. UNDP, together with the UK Government is proud to support this effort so that Bangladesh not only participates in global trade talks but does so with clarity, unity, and foresight.” The event, chaired by Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, also recognised members of the newly formed pool of trade negotiators with certificates. Drawing expertise from ministries, agencies, and academia, this cadre is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Bangladesh’s trade interests in bilateral, regional, and multilateral forums. Md Abdur Rahim Khan, Additional Secretary (Export Wing), Ministry of Commerce, Owais Parray, Country Economic Advisor, UNDP Bangladesh and Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Chairman, RAPID were also amongst many who shared their views. UNDP, through the TEPP, is supporting the Government of Bangladesh to strengthen national trade capacities by developing a dedicated pool of trade negotiators, providing specialised capacity-building programmes and facilitating technical assistance. The initiative is designed not only to build individual skills but also to create institutional mechanisms that ensure knowledge retention and long-term sustainability of trade negotiation capacity.  

The Global South Media and Think Tank Forum 2025 opened in Kunming, Yunnan Province, uniting hundreds of scholars, officials and journalists to strengthen the voice of developing countries on the global stage. The theme of the five-day forum is “Empowering Global South, Navigating Global Changes”. This is the second edition of the forum, which is co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency, the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee, and the People's Government of Yunnan Province. It was first held last November in Sao Paulo, Brazil. About 500 representatives from more than 260 institutions across 110 countries, including Bangladesh, as well as international and regional organizations, are participating in the forum, reports Xinhua. The agenda focuses on building consensus on peace, identifying new drivers of development, broadening cooperation, and advancing dialogue among civilizations. Journalists, scholars, government officials and entrepreneurs are among the participants. Enayetullah Khan to represent Bangladesh at Global South Media and Think Tank Forum in China

Despite holding ‘immense renewables potential’, clean energy makes up a ‘very low’ (6.1%) proportion of total primary energy supply (TPES) in the countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas, with hydropower singled out as being ‘hugely underexploited’, according to a major new assessment report. The report came from eight-nation regional intergovernmental body the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) which was launched on Friday during the Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Week in Bangkok. Of 882 Gigawatts total hydropower potential identified in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the vast majority of that potential (635 Gigawatts) is from the waters of the transboundary rivers of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. Just 49% of this potential is currently tapped. Non-hydro clean energy potential (solar and wind) in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, meanwhile, stands at 3 Terawatts. While the total combined renewable energy targets of the countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya amount to 1.7 Terawatts (as per their Nationally Determined Contributions), the renewable energy potential within the HKH region alone is over >3.5 Terawatts. While Bhutan and Nepal generate 100% of their electricity from renewables, fossil fuels overwhelmingly dominate other Hindu Kush Himalayan countries’ electricity generation: representing 98% in Bangladesh, 77% in India, 76% in Pakistan’s, 67% in China, and 51% in Myanmar. Biofuels and waste make up an ‘alarmingly high’ proportion of total primary energy supply (TPES) in four HKH countries, meanwhile – contributing two-thirds of Nepal’s; half of Myanmar’s; and one quarter of Bhutan and Pakistan’s energy supply. This reflects rural communities’ continued reliance on traditional materials (wood, crop residues, livestock dung) for cooking and heating, despite the impacts on air quality and human health. The new study Together we have more power: status, challenges, and the potential for regional renewable energy cooperation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya examines existing energy sources, the share of renewable sources in the overall energy mix, analyses climatic and non-climatic risks to the energy sector and explores potential for renewable energy cooperation. The study warns that climate change is significantly impacting the energy sector, particularly hydropower production, through increased water variability, extreme weather events, and infrastructure damage. Changing hydrological regimes resulting in streamflow variations and seasonal shifts affect output, it finds, while glacial lake outburst floods and other extreme events pose ‘major risks’ to existing and planned hydropower projects – with close to two-thirds of current and planned hydropower vulnerable to potential glacier floods alone – and stresses the need to integrate disaster risk mitigation strategies into renewables projects. The report emphasises that while multipurpose dams play a role in flood moderation and water management, they alone cannot address the growing risks of mega-floods, water wastage, or mismanagement. It highlights the importance of exploring ‘dams equivalents’—a suite of modern technological, structural, and institutional solutions that can deliver similar benefits while avoiding the downsides of large reservoirs. Dams equivalents measures include updating irrigation systems to reduce water wastage, on-farm water-efficient and climate-resilient practices, urban water storage and the adoption of solar and wind. The report flags a number of barriers to progress on renewables in the region, running from high capital costs, limited public finance, and the difficulty of attracting private investment; the potentially far-reaching consequences of renewables development for local communities, ecosystems, and health; lack of technology and experience, land availability, knowledge on operations and maintenance and investment in research and development; and the need for new policy and regulatory frameworks that factor in air and water pollution. “We have extraordinary renewables potential within our region, as well as, in India and China, two of the world’s pioneers in clean energy,” said Coordinating Lead Author, Avishek Malla, launching the report in Bangkok. “Building on this amazing competitive advantage that Asia now holds in renewables represents a tremendous opportunity to turbocharge green economic growth, while lifting people out of poverty, and meeting our ambitious emissions-reductions targets. “It is crucial that we think beyond trade for us to truly seize the opportunity of renewables holds for our region, however: we need investment in infrastructure, and a massive uptick in south-south skills and technology exchange, leveraging existing platforms including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s Energy Centre and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation energy ministers conference. We also need international financial institutes to play a catalytic role in building this infrastructure to meet the needs of today but also safeguard the wellbeing of future generations.” Regional cooperation on energy must be designed to capture the full spectrum of benefits, the report finds — from renewable energy trade, disaster risk reduction, and enhanced agricultural productivity to industrial development, improved water navigation, and strengthened agricultural trade. Such cooperation also enables the transfer of renewable energy technologies and knowledge, fosters green growth and job creation, and supports countries in achieving their national and global commitments. The report was launched during the fourth session of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Commission for Asia Committee on Energy, which runs 3 to 5 September 2025 in Bangkok under the theme of “Transforming energy systems in Asia and the Pacific for a just and sustainable future”, with Malla presenting key findings on air pollution, social exclusion, and energy access at a high-level session marking the 6th International Clean Air for Blue Skies Day, with the theme “Clean Air. Sustainable Energy”, hosted by Republic of Korea, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  

The Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal Md. Shafiqur Rahman held a meeting with leaders of the Garment Association of Nepal (GAN), exchanging views on strengthening bilateral ties in the textile and ready-made garment (RMG) sectors. At the invitation of the GAN President, Ambassador Rahman attended the inaugural session of the 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association, held at a local hotel in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The Ambassador received a warm welcome at the event, which provided him the opportunity to engage with leading RMG businesses and exporters from Nepal.

The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) on Thursday said the Rohingya crisis is not a distant issue but it is an ASEAN concern. It said if the regional bloc continues its inaction, the costs will be high - human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling, including an influx of refugees that would continue to threaten stability across the region. To prompt a collective response guided by the principle of burden-sharing, the APHR called for the creation of an ASEAN platform on the Rohingya issue, which would enable high-level discussions and the development of a unified action plan reflecting the shared responsibility of all member states. From September 1-4, the APHR delegation—composed of former and current lawmakers from Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines—visited Cox's Bazar to assess the escalating humanitarian and human rights crisis facing Rohingya refugees and host communities. While on the ground, APHR reasserted that ASEAN ignored the root of the crisis; it is already at a critical stage. The World Food Programme, in fact, warned that food rations will run out after November 2025 unless 17 million USD per month is secured. The APHR mission to Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar extended its gratitude to the government of Bangladesh for hosting and supporting the Rohingya community despite enormous challenges. APHR also expressed its gratitude to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus for a productive meeting with the delegation where findings and recommendations for a sustainable solution to the crisis were discussed. The dialogue was a critical step towards ensuring the voices of the Rohingya and the concerns of the host community are heard at the highest levels of the Bangladeshi government. The mission follows up on key findings from a January 2018 APHR fact-finding segment and aims to urgently inform key duty-bearers, particularly ASEAN and its member states, of the imminent food shortage in the refugee camps, among other challenges to their living conditions. APHR urged the immediate creation of an ASEAN Humanitarian Fund to deliver life-saving support and prevent mass hunger among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Ensuring access to education is paramount in safeguarding the foundations for safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation. For that reason, APHR called on ASEAN to partner with Bangladesh to guarantee access to accredited schooling and vocational training for Rohingya children and youth. Int'l conf engaging Bangladesh, China, ASEAN countries proposed to resolve Rohingya issues In this light, APHR commended the Philippine Government for providing scholarships and higher education opportunities to Rohingya students that other ASEAN member states can follow suit. The mission underscored the required commitment of ASEAN to regional stability and human rights. APHR urged the international community, humanitarian actors, and Southeast Asian governments to act with urgency and compassion to address the humanitarian needs and political complexities of the Rohingya crisis. Co-Chair of APHR Charles Santiago said, “Eight years since the Rohingya crisis began, and ASEAN is still not treating this issue as its own. APHR first raised this in 2018, and today we repeat our call for an ASEAN Humanitarian Fund. If ASEAN continues to look away, the costs—human trafficking, illicit trade, and growing instability—will be borne by the entire region.” Member of the Board of APHR Wong Chen said, “The Rohingya people are from Myanmar and since Myanmar is an ASEAN state, ASEAN Member States have an obligation with the international community, to provide sufficient food aid to the refugee camps who will soon be at risk of mass starvation. “According to the World Food Program, by the end of November 2025, there will be significantly less budget for the food rations program due to deep USAID cuts. A sum of $17 million USD per month is needed to sustain 1.3 million in the camps.” APHR member Raoul Manuel said, “Rohingya youth cannot remain trapped without access to accredited education and relevant skills training. Their future, and any hope for durable solutions, depends on ensuring they have the tools to live with dignity and contribute to building a peaceful and democratic Myanmar. We call on ASEAN to work closely with Bangladesh to make this possible.” ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) is a regional network of current and former parliamentarians who use their unique positions to advance human rights and democracy in Southeast Asia.

A US-based Company has announced plans to introduce a ‘revolutionary’ portable AI-powered ultrasound device in Bangladesh, marking a significant step forward in the country’s healthcare sector. Officials from the company, Exo Imaging, led by its co-founders Yusuf Haque and Sandeep Akkaraju, met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday at the state guest house Jamuna to discuss the groundbreaking technology and its potential impact. Yusuf Haque, a Bangladeshi-origin US medical technology expert and Exo’s Chief Technology Officer, said the company plans to roll out the device initially in leading hospitals across Bangladesh, with a long-term vision to expand access to rural and community healthcare centres. “This device is designed to be portable and highly efficient, making high-quality diagnostics more accessible, even in remote areas. It will revolutionise healthcare across the globe, especially in places like rural Bangladesh. Doctors and nurses will soon use it like a stethoscope," Haque said. Sandeep Akkaraju, Chief Executive Officer of Exo, said Bangladesh is the first country in Asia to adopt the technology, which is currently only available in the United States under approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “We are also planning to launch it in Mexico and several Latin American countries soon,” Akkaraju added. This AI-powered device can assist in the early detection of a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, tuberculosis, breast cancer, lung disease, thyroid issues and pregnancy-related complications.

United Nations Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday and said the UN fully supports the February general election in Bangladesh. “It is crucial for the country’s democratic transition,” Lewis said at the meeting held at the State Guest House Jamuna. They discussed ways the UN could assist in ensuring a ‘transparent, free, fair and peaceful’ electoral process. A major topic of discussion was the upcoming national election, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. The Resident Coordinator reaffirmed the UN’s ongoing commitment to support the Bangladesh Election Commission ahead of the general election scheduled for February. During the meeting, Lewis praised the strong cooperation between the UN and the interim government, as they discussed a wide range of topics on Bangladesh’s development priorities and reform agenda. They also explored avenues for expanded UN support to advance the government’s ambitious reform initiatives. Preparations for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York and the Rohingya conference later this month were also reviewed. Both leaders expressed deep concern over the sharp decline in international funding for Rohingya humanitarian efforts, which is already affecting education and other critical services in the camps. Prof Yunus stressed the urgent need for sustained international solidarity and increased support to address the funding shortfall and strengthen Bangladesh’s humanitarian response for the Rohingya population. Lewis reiterated the UN’s steadfast support for Bangladesh’s reform and transition process, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to helping the country achieve sustainable development and long-term prosperity.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday said BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman's return to Bangladesh depends on his own decision but the government will address the issues related to his travel documents or passport when it is required. “Look, it’s his decision (when he will return to Bangladesh). He is a citizen of this country. He can come anytime. If there is any travel document related problem, we will solve that but he has to take the decision,” he said. The Foreign Affairs Adviser made the remarks while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the evening. Asked whether Tarique applied for a passport, the Foreign Adviser said he does not know it yet and this issue is yet to come to his notice. Hossain said they will extend required cooperation to him when Tarique is willing to come. The Appellate Division on Thursday upheld a High Court (HC) order that acquitted all convicts, including Tarique and former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutforzzman Babar, in the sensational August 21 grenade attack case. Top court sets Sept 4 for verdict on Tarique, others in grenade attack case A seven-member bench, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order ending the long legal battle. No 2nd Letter Seeking Hasina’s Extradition Hossain also said there has been no update yet on Dhaka's request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. He, however, said there has been no second request letter from Dhaka as of now. “We wrote once. If we write further, you will come to know.” Responding to a question, Hossain said there is no barrier from Dhaka for improving the relations with New Delhi but it needs both side’s cooperation to agree on any issues. In July this year, the Foreign Affairs Adviser said the government would continue to pursue the extradition of Hasina, currently reported to be in India since August 5 last year. Tarique urges parties to face people’s verdict through politics, not tactics “I don’t know who regrets how much, but we see the matter this way - if necessary, the matter will be followed up,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July when a reporter asked whether there was any regret over the government's failure to bring Hasina back nearly a year after the formal request. Bangladesh had sent a diplomatic note (note verbale) to India in December last year, along with a set of supporting documents, formally requesting Hasina's extradition.

Transparency International’s (TI) International Board Chair François Valérian on Thursday said that corruption in Bangladesh still persists, although it has declined since the July uprising. “Identifying where the laundered money has gone and bringing it back is urgent. This requires coordinated action with the relevant countries,” Valérian told a press conference at a city hotel. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) organised the press conference marking his visit to Bangladesh. Noting that reform initiatives are underway in different sectors, Valérian said it is too early to predict how the situation will unfold in the future. “Corruption still exists in Bangladesh, but it has decreased after the July uprising,” he added. PIB director suspended over corruption allegations TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said some preventive measures have been taken against money laundering, particularly through loan mechanisms, which have somewhat reduced the outflow. He mentioned banking sector reforms but emphasised that money laundering continues and that prevention should be prioritised, as recovering laundered money is very difficult. According to Dr Iftekharuzzaman, the amount laundered in recent years exceeded more than twice the volume of foreign aid and investment Bangladesh received annually. He said curbing the practice and recovering stolen assets remain essential, citing some success such as the freezing of assets in the United Kingdom. François Valérian arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday for a three-day visit and this is his first trip to Bangladesh since being elected Chair of TI’s International Board in 2023. During the visit, he met TIB officials, presidents of 45 district-based Committees of Concerned Citizens (CCC), leaders of 65 Youth Engagement and Support (YES) platforms, as well as stakeholders from government and non-government sectors, civil society representatives and media professionals. Witnesses start testifying against ousted PM Hasina, family members in Purbachal plot corruption cases A noted academic and researcher, Valérian has been serving at TI’s International Board since 2019 and contributed to several key committees before being elected Chair.

A Japanese parliamentary delegation engaged in labour issues on Wednesday praised improved working conditions in Bangladesh factories but insisted on more work for further progress. “We must admit that the labour environment has improved, but there is still room for further progress,” said Kenta Izumi, Member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Izumi led the delegation members of the Japanese Parliamentarians' League on the International Labour Organization (ILO) as they paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday at the State Guest House Jamuna. During the meeting, Izumi shared his observations from the delegates’ visits to factories both inside and outside EPZs, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Izumi added that during his visit to Japanese companies in Bangladesh, he felt a positive energy. “We hope Japanese companies will invest more in infrastructure and other sectors,” he said. Prof Yunus hailed Japan as a trusted friend of Bangladesh and thanked the country for its cooperation over the years. He noted that the relationship between the two countries is multi-dimensional. He highlighted that labour sector reform is one of the key priorities of Bangladesh’s interim government and noted that his Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi had been specifically tasked with the implementation of all the ILO conventions and ensuring their timely adoption. “He is pushing everyone to get their job done,” said the chief adviser. “We made it very clear that we should be apologetic about the labour issue and must work on it,” Professor Yunus emphasised. He also sought Japanese support for deep-sea fishing projects in Matarbari and proposed initiatives to increase the number of Bangladeshi Technical Interns and Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) in Japanese companies. Japan speeds up missile deployment as regional tensions rise “We plan to send 100,000 young people to Japan. They will receive language training, skill development, etiquette lessons, and even some history education. This is the beginning. In the future, we will send many more. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to explore and showcase their creativity,” Prof Yunus said. The delegation included Hanako Jimi, vice secretary general to the Liberal Democratic Party; Ryuji Satomi, Kenta Izumi, member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; Makiko Dogomi, Independent MP; Maki Ikeda, member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; Mamoru Umetani, member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; and Atsushi Oshima, executive board member of the Democratic Party for the People. Lutfey Siddiqi and Senior Secretary on SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed were present.