United News of Bangladesh

The rural transformation in Bangladesh must connect climate resilience with employment, finance, technology and markets, government and United Nations representatives said at a workshop on the mid-term review of the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2023–2028 of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Bangladesh. Convened by the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Government of Bangladesh and IFAD recently, the workshop brought together government representatives, development partners, UN agencies, implementing institutions and rural participants. They reviewed progress since 2023, assessed the COSOP’s continued relevance and identified adjustments for the remaining period, including a possible extension. Moslema Nazneen, Joint Secretary, ERD, highlighted IFAD’s long-standing contribution to rural development and called for investments supporting food security, employment, balanced regional development and the restoration of rivers and canals. “The lessons of the past years are clear: keep project design simple, invest in strong implementing partners, pair infrastructure with production support, and never neglect institutional capacity,” she said. The review found that the programme is making steady progress, although results vary across areas and better tracking is needed to measure its impact. So far, it has reached 3.58 million rural people, with women accounting for 46 per cent of participants while young people accounting for about 27 per cent. Progress is already visible across rural communities. Improved water systems now serve 86 per cent of the targeted farmland, while the number of community groups managing natural resources has exceeded expectations. Around 749,000 rural households are producing more crops and other agricultural products.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Saturday said the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly will provide Bangladesh, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with a major opportunity to highlight its national interests, economic potential and development priorities on the global stage. "It marks a new journey, a new possibility and a new aspiration," she said while addressing a discussion titled "Upcoming UNGA and Branding of Bangladesh" as the chief guest, organised by the Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi (Centre for NRB), a non-profit research organisation for expatriate Bangladeshis. Prime Minister Tarique is scheduled to attend the UNGA for the first time since the establishment of the new democratic government. Following the government's "Bangladesh First" foreign policy, Tarique Rahman is set to present Bangladesh to the international community as a democratic, confident, responsible and promising nation. The high-level segment of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to begin in New York on September 21. She said Bangladesh should no longer be portrayed internationally merely through floods, disasters or the repatriation of undocumented migrants. "Bangladesh has opportunities in tourism, business and investment, and it has the potential to be presented properly on the world map. We are trying to brand Bangladesh in the right way. The government alone cannot do everything; all of us must work together," the State Minister said. She said the significance of the session is heightened by the fact that Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman will preside over the General Assembly. "This is definitely a matter of pride for Bangladesh," Shama said, noting that Bangladesh's success in the election came despite Cyprus having worked for more than a decade to secure the position. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur is now in New York and will take up his responsibilities as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly soon, a tenure that will coincide with a crucial period for the world body, including the selection of a new UN secretary-general. The 81st session of the General Assembly will formally open on September 8, with world leaders expected to gather at UN Headquarters in New York later in the month for the annual high-level general debate. The State Minister credited Bangladesh's diplomatic efforts, including those undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh's mission in New York, as well as the country's stability and democratic government, for playing an important role in the victory. "Therefore, considering all these aspects, this upcoming session will be extremely important for us," she said. PM to Attend Special UN Session on Rohingya Crisis On the Rohingya crisis, Shama said a dedicated session would be held during the UN General Assembly with the participation of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. She said the crisis has become increasingly complex because of the involvement of the Myanmar authorities, the Arakan Army, regional actors and competing international interests. "In fact, the problem has deepened. A regional complication has been created. Without international pressure, resolving this problem will become very difficult," she said, urging Bangladeshis abroad and civil-society representatives to help mobilise international support for a sustainable solution. The State Minister said the Rohingya crisis is a big problem for Bangladesh. "But it's not Bangladesh's problem. The problem was not created by Bangladesh." The State Minister also highlighted Bangladesh's reputation at the UN, particularly for its contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. Turning to the government's economic priorities, Shama said economic diplomacy is a major component of the government's manifesto. She said the government inherited what she described as a "broken economy" and a "broken banking sector" and that restoring the economy and bringing it onto a sound footing would take time. She said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been working from the outset to improve transparency and accountability in the banking sector and create a more investor-friendly environment for both foreign investors and non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs). "We want to create an environment where our Bangladeshis will return to invest, and foreigners will also invest here," she said. The government is also working to simplify investment procedures through digital services and a one-stop mechanism so that investors do not have to visit multiple government offices for different services, she said. Shama said the government is expanding online facilities for registration, company name registration and other procedures to make doing business easier. She also highlighted the "One Citizen, One Card" initiative, under which information currently held by different government agencies would be consolidated into a single database and linked to one card for each citizen. The State Minister placed particular emphasis on protecting Bangladeshi migrant workers and curbing illegal migration. She said the government holds expatriate Bangladeshis and remittance earners in high regard, but illegal migration facilitated by broker networks remains a serious concern. Bangladeshi migrants have been falling victim to broker cartels while attempting to travel through dangerous routes, including the Mediterranean, under false promises of employment in countries such as Italy and Spain, she said. "We are addressing this issue, and the current Prime Minister has taken direct action," Shama said. She said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working closely with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to tackle illegal migration. For the first time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a dedicated Migration Wing to address illegal migration and issues faced by Bangladeshi expatriates, she said. The government is also focusing on sending skilled workers abroad through more effective vocational training and skills development, with the aim of ensuring dignified and legal employment for both men and women, she said. Shama urged the NRB community to help raise awareness among potential migrants about the risks posed by illegal migration and broker networks. The State Minister said government agencies have begun working at the grassroots level, identifying districts where illegal migration is more prevalent and coordinating with local administrations to tackle the problem. She said the government is working to simplify visa procedures, including provisions relating to visa-on-arrival, and that the revised policy is expected to be placed before Parliament. "Everything the Prime Minister is doing aims to make Bangladesh more investment-friendly," she said. Shama also stressed the importance of economic diversification, particularly in the energy sector, in view of recent global conflicts and disruptions. The State Minister highlighted the government's focus on the Blue Economy, saying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a dedicated Maritime Wing working on the sector. She also pointed to the introduction of the Creative Economy as a new sector in this year's budget. The sector, she said, will provide particular opportunities for women entrepreneurs and help bring Bangladesh's art, cottage industries, handicrafts and cultural heritage into the mainstream economy while promoting them internationally. Centre for NRB Chairperson M S Shekil Chowdhury said the organisation arranged the programme as part of its annual World Conference Series to showcase Bangladesh's positive developments to the international community. He said the series also seeks to deepen Bangladesh's global engagement and encourage expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in the country and remit their earnings through legal channels.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Saturday said Bangladesh wants engagement and a good working relationship with India despite existing challenges, stressing that the door for dialogue will always remain open. "There might be thousands of problems and challenges with India, but the door of dialogue and discussion will always remain open. And that should be kept," he told reporters, noting that India is a neighbour of Bangladesh. The State Minister made the remarks during an exchange of views with leaders of the Electronic Media Journalists Association (EMJA) in Sylhet. Kobir said foreign, economic and security cooperation and policies are intertwined and interrelated for most countries around the world, not just for Bangladesh. "It cannot be isolated from each other. Particularly, for the foreign policy that we have undertaken, it has to be integrated and it must be complementary to each other. From that point of view, foreign policy is not about only foreign relations. There needs to be a strong area of engagement for economic cooperation," he said. Talking about the challenges with India, the State Minister said there are, of course, challenges, as "terrorists" who fled the country after killing people in Bangladesh are staying in India. "If space is given to them (by India), it will go against the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh. It would be pressure to address that. Our foreign policy engagement is based on national interests and driven by people's interests," Kobir said. The State Minister, who has met Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi twice so far, said India must understand the situation. "I met him (envoy)  twice. He is trying, but he gets stuck somewhere." Kobir laid emphasis on stopping former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stressing that it is irrelevant whether she is using private or public platforms in India. "Providing Hasina space creates a bad precedent," he said. Regarding Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to India, Kobir said the possibility of such a visit before the upcoming UN General Assembly session is very slim. "When the time is right, the Prime Minister will be visiting India, but the possibility is very slim before the UNGA as the Prime Minister will be attending the UNGA," he said. The 81st session of the General Assembly will formally open on September 8, with world leaders expected to gather at UN Headquarters in New York later in the month for the annual high-level general debate. India will soon host the BRICS Summit, and an Indian journalist wanted to know whether Bangladesh had communicated whether Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would participate and, if not, who would represent Bangladesh at the summit. "On the participation from Bangladesh side, I have no update to share with you," Spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told reporters during a regular briefing in New Delhi on Friday. Although the date of the Prime Minister’s proposed India visit has not yet been finalised, bilateral discussions on the matter are underway, State Minister Kobir said. The meeting was arranged after journalists covering the State Minister’s programme on Friday were allegedly harassed. Television journalists in Sylhet on Friday decided to boycott news coverage of the State Minister and the local BNP after several media workers were allegedly harassed by political activists at the Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine. Kobir, visiting Sylhet for the first time since taking office as State Minister, offered prayers at the shrine after Jummah prayers. Responding to various questions, Kobir said the extent of corruption in the energy sector in the past could be understood by looking at the sector’s overall condition. He said the current government is giving the energy sector the highest priority. The State Minister also said discussions are underway on the Mecca Pact and that Bangladesh’s joining the agreement would not be unusual. “Many countries in the world are part of multiple security alliances. Bangladesh will join wherever necessary based on its national interests,” he said. On the purchase of Boeing aircraft, Kobir said no one was pressuring Bangladesh to buy Boeing planes. “Bangladesh is buying Boeing aircraft from the United States because there is a demand for them. More aircraft may be purchased if necessary,” he said.

A 15- member delegation from the National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, visited Bangladesh as part of their "Strategic Neighbourhood Study Tour." They visited the Naval Headquarters, Army Headquarters, Armed Forces Division and National Defence College, Mirpur on the first day after arriving in Dhaka on August 30. The delegation comprised officers from Indian Armed Forces, Civil Services and members of Armed Forces of friendly foreign countries. In the evening, the delegation was hosted by Bangladesh Navy for dinner at BNS Dhaka, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Thursday. The delegation visited Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Military Museum and Air Headquarters on their second day. On the third day, the delegation visited BAF Base in Cox's Bazar. During these visits, the Defence Advisor and the Head of Delegation called on senior leadership of the Bangladesh Armed Forces and exchanged views on various topics, including defence cooperation. These exchanges strengthened the enduring bond of friendship and spirit of camaraderie between the Armed Forces of the two countries, said the High Commission. The study tour gave the delegation lessons on the unique security challenges of Bangladesh and their strategic priorities. These invaluable lessons will help consolidate the friendship and cooperation between the two neighbours.  

The Bangladesh government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has contributed US$1 million (Tk 12.3 crore) to the Nepal Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to support the ongoing relief, recovery, and humanitarian efforts following the sudden devastating floods and mudslide in Northern Nepal. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir conveyed this to Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari while handing over a letter from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman addressed to Prime Minister of Nepal Balendra Shah at the State Guest House Padma on Thursday. In the letter, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has conveyed his “deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the people and government of Nepal” on the tragic loss of lives and widespread devastation caused by the August 26 massive flash floods. Ambassador Bhandari expressed his gratitude to the government of Bangladesh for its support, generous contribution, and solidarity with the government and people of Nepal during this difficult time, according to the Nepal Embassy in Dhaka. Earlier, on September 1, the state minister signed the condolence book opened at the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad also adopted a condolence motion on August 27 following the terrible tragedy in Nepal. The death toll from the devastating mudslide in Nepal has climbed to 1,204, with 4,216 people still missing, according to the Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

An Indonesian delegation, led by Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Listyowati, held a meeting with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus at the Yunus Centre on Thursday, seeking his advice and guidance on microcredit and social business. The delegation, comprising senior government officials and professors from Indonesia, engaged Professor Yunus in an extensive discussion on microcredit programmes, financial inclusion, youth entrepreneurship, agriculture and social business. They sought to learn from his experience and explore how these approaches could be adapted to address social and economic challenges in Indonesia. During the meeting, the delegation also invited Prof Yunus to visit Indonesia and share his experience and insights with Indonesian government institutions and communities.

Nepal’s electricity exports have dropped sharply following devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi river system, with power supplies to Bangladesh effectively coming to a halt, reports The Kathmandu Post. Nepal typically exports around 1,000 megawatts of electricity during the wet season. But following the August 26 floods, exports have fallen to about 650 MW as several hydropower plants have been forced to shut down or operate at reduced capacity. Bangladesh has been among the hardest hit as it had only recently started receiving electricity from Nepal through India’s power grid. Two hydropower plants authorised to supply electricity to Bangladesh — the 22.1 MW Chilime Hydropower Project and the 24 MW Trishuli Hydropower Project — have suffered flood damage and remained out of operation since last week. Chilime was authorised to sell 21.4 MW to India, while Trishuli was approved to export 18.6 MW. Both plants were also cleared to supply electricity to Bangladesh through India. Nepal receives payment in US dollars for power sold to Bangladesh. “Both projects supplying electricity to Bangladesh have been damaged, so we have asked India to allow electricity from another project to be sent as an alternative,” said Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha, acting managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). “At present, electricity exports to Bangladesh are effectively at zero,” he said. The floods have affected Nepal’s power generation more broadly, with generation halted at 12 hydropower projects since the disaster. The NEA has placed the Sanjen, Upper Sanjen and Salasungi projects in “isolated mode” after their transmission lines were damaged. Under this arrangement, the plants operate outside the national grid and generate electricity only for nearby areas. Export approvals add to Nepal’s power-trade problemsThe decline in exports is not entirely attributable to the floods. Nepal is also unable to export 73.75 MW from three hydropower projects to India because their export approvals have not been renewed. The approval for the 38.8 MW Upper Chameliya Hydropower Project expired on June 31, while those for the 24.25 MW Seti River and 10.70 MW Upper Tadi Khola projects expired on July 31. Until the approvals are renewed, the NEA cannot sell their combined 73.75 MW to India. Such approvals have to be renewed annually. The situation highlights the challenges Nepal faces as it seeks to become a regional electricity exporter after years of depending on imports, particularly during the dry winter months. India has so far authorised Nepal to export electricity generated by 37 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of around 1,200 MW. Chilime and Trishuli are among those projects. Bangladesh power deal faces additional hurdlesNepal’s electricity trade with Bangladesh is subject to further constraints because the power must pass through India. At a Nepal-Bangladesh energy secretary-level Joint Steering Committee meeting in Dhaka in November 2025, the two countries agreed to increase Nepal’s electricity exports to Bangladesh by another 20 MW under their existing 40 MW arrangement. They also agreed to initiate the necessary procedures. India, however, later said the additional 20 MW could not be exported because of insufficient transmission capacity. Nepal again sought India’s approval for the additional 20 MW at a Nepal-India energy secretary-level Joint Steering Committee meeting in June. The NEA has also requested permission to export electricity from other projects, including the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. However, India has not approved electricity exports from projects involving Chinese investment, Chinese contractors or, in some cases, Chinese equipment. During the monsoon, abundant water enables hydropower plants to generate surplus electricity for export. In the dry season, declining river flows combined with strong domestic demand force Nepal to import electricity from India. The Bhotekoshi floods have disrupted this model just as Nepal would normally be maximising its electricity exports and earnings. The NEA is now working to restore damaged generation and transmission infrastructure while seeking Indian approval to redirect electricity from other operational projects to Bangladesh.

Calling for renewed global action to advance women’s leadership in peacebuilding, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Irene Zubaida Khan has said a lasting culture of peace can only be built when societies uphold justice, equality, human rights and inclusive participation. Speaking at the High-Level Forum on the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace at UN Headquarters on Wednesday, Ambassador Khan outlined three priorities to strengthen women’s leadership. She called for renewed efforts to ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation at all stages of peace processes; greater investment in adolescent girls and young women’s leadership, including their digital access and literacy; and sustained, targeted support for women-led organizations working in conflict prevention, humanitarian response, community resilience, social cohesion and peacebuilding. Ambassador Khan said that despite the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, women remain underrepresented in peace processes and are often excluded from decisions affecting their lives and futures, said a media release. She reaffirmed Bangladesh’s strong commitment to promoting women’s leadership in building a culture of peace and highlighted the contributions of Bangladeshi women peacekeepers and women leaders in civil society.

Bangladesh’s fossil fuel import bill could rise by up to USD 2.8 billion in 2026, adding pressure on the country’s economy and raising energy security concerns as the current supply crisis risks deepening long-term dependence on imported gas, a new analysis by international research group Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA) showed. ZCA estimates that the additional imported fossil fuel spending in 2026 is equivalent to the cost of installing around 8 GW of rooftop solar, enough to increase generation capacity by around 25% on Bangladesh’s current 32 GW power grid. Bangladesh’s LNG imports between January and August 2026 were nearly 13% lower than during the same period in 2025. The sharpest decline came between July and August, when imports plunged by around 83%, from 0.63 million tonnes to 0.11 million tonnes, amid disruptions to supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. But lower imports have not meant lower costs. If oil, gas and coal prices remain at the January–August average for the rest of the year, ZCA estimates Bangladesh’s fossil fuel import bill could be around 30% higher than in 2025. The additional cost would be equivalent to around 10% of Bangladesh’s trade deficit and could add pressure on the taka, inflation and borrowing costs. If current fuel prices persist, ZCA estimates the country’s import cover could fall from 5.7 to 5.2 months, it said. Around 64% of Bangladesh’s electricity generation depends on gas, leaving the power system highly exposed to LNG supply disruptions. On 11 August, the power supply shortfall reached 3,592MW - around 20% of demand at the time. The supply crunch is already affecting households and major industries. Some rural areas have reportedly experienced power outages lasting eight to 10 hours a day. Bangladesh’s exposure reflects its growing reliance on imported energy. In 2023, around 46% of the country’s total energy supply was imported, while imports met 65% of its power needs in FY2024–25. Nearly two-thirds of Bangladesh’s LNG supplies in 2025 passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Doubling down on imported gas To address immediate shortages, Bangladesh has sought LNG from multiple suppliers and the spot market. The government approved two spot LNG cargoes for August and September and procured another eight cargoes from suppliers in the UK, Australia, Malaysia and Oman. It has also sought additional diesel supplies from India. At the same time, Bangladesh is making longer-term commitments to imported gas, including an agreement to purchase 117 LNG cargoes from the United States between 2026 and 2038. Long-term contracts, however, do not eliminate supply risks. Three major LNG suppliers to Bangladesh have declared force majeure on contractual obligations amid the current crisis, while the International Energy Agency projects a cumulative global LNG supply loss of around 140 billion cubic metres through 2030. ZCA’s analysis points to rooftop solar as one option for reducing Bangladesh’s exposure to imported fuels and international price volatility. Renewables accounted for just over 5% of Bangladesh’s electricity generation in 2025, with installed renewable capacity reaching 1.49GW. According to IEEFA, a 1MW rooftop solar installation could save around $180,000 a year in imported fuel costs. Bangladesh needs to add around 760MW of renewable energy capacity each year through 2030 to meet its 20% renewable electricity target. Yet only 358MW of renewable projects were under construction as of February 2026.

The British High Commission in Dhaka has hosted a pre-departure reception to celebrate this year’s Chevening and Commonwealth scholars preparing to begin their postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom. Held at the British High Commissioner's residence on Tuesday evening, the event brought together the departing scholars, distinguished alumni, the Bangladesh Association of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows, the Chevening Alumni Association of Bangladesh, and partners supporting UK scholarships. British Fintech ‘VALT’ launches operations in Bangladesh The reception provided an opportunity for scholars to connect with alumni and fellow award recipients before embarking on their academic journeys in the UK. Through the UK government-funded Chevening and Commonwealth scholarship programmes, the scholars will pursue postgraduate studies at world-class UK universities and join global networks of future leaders, innovators, and changemakers, said a media release on Wednesday. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke congratulated the Chevening and Commonwealth scholars from Bangladesh who are about to begin this exciting new chapter in the United Kingdom. She said these scholarships reflect the strong partnership between Bangladesh and the UK and their shared commitment to education, leadership and opportunity. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact you will make in your communities and professions.” This year also marks a significant milestone for Chevening in Bangladesh, with HSBC joining as a Chevening partner for the first time and sponsoring one Bangladeshi Chevening Scholar. The Chevening Scholarship is the UK Government's international scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The Commonwealth Scholarship programme is funded by the UK Government through the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission and supports postgraduate study and sustainable development across the Commonwealth.