United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh and Russia will hold talks on bilateral and international issues in Moscow on June 8 as Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is set to pay a three-day official visit to Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced the official visit by Bangladeshi Foreign Minister. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka is yet to make an official announcement. At the invitation of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Khalilur Rahman will pay an official visit to Russia on June 7-9, said the Russian side. On June 8, the ministers will hold talks on current bilateral and international issues, said the Spokesperson. A special emphasis will be placed on our interaction at the UN as Khalilur Rahman has been elected President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, the Russian said said. The ranking Bangladeshi guest’s programme also includes meetings with top officials from the Federation Council, Rosatom State Corporation, and a number of other organisations, according to the Russian Embassy in Dhaka.

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey has said BIMSTEC is poised to emerge as a dynamic and successful platform for forging regional cooperation and to play a crucial role in realizing security and sustainable development of its member States.  "It is also emerging as a shining example of South-South cooperation," he said, noting the measures being taken to reform and revitalize it, including through implementation of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Eminent Persons’ Group. BIMSTEC emerging as a shining example of South-South, regional cooperation In a message, marking the BIMSTEC Day, the Secretary-General said BIMSTEC is open to engage in partnerships with other regional organizations as well as UN and International Organizations.  He expressed his deep gratitude to the BIMSTEC member States for their continued guidance and support to the BIMSTEC Secretariat.  "The Secretariat remains fully committed to carrying out the tasks entrusted to it in a timely, efficient and effective manner and supporting the member States in translating their shared vision for regional cooperation into tangible outcomes," said the Secretary-General. In order to institutionalize cooperation in various sectors, BIMSTEC has established Centres of Excellence, such as BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and and Climate and BIMSTEC Energy Centre, both in India. Further, the SG said BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory has been set up in  Paro, Bhutan, and BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility is being set up in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  Eight more Centres of Excellence are being set up in order to enhance regional cooperation in areas of agriculture, culture and tourism, disaster management, sustainable maritime transport,  skill development, tropical medicine, traditional medicine, Supreme Audit Institutions etc. The Secretary-General said BIMSTEC has already concluded two Conventions: BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in  Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking, which has entered into force since March 2021, and BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, which has not yet entered into force. 3 more Conventions on Extradition; Human Trafficking; and Transfer of Sentenced Persons are being concluded.  The BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation, which was signed in April 2025, has entered into force for the 4 member States, which have ratified it, Secretary-General Pandey said. Besides, a number of MoUs and MoAs have also been concluded.  BIMSTEC has been seeking developmental partnerships with the non-Members as well as the UN, International and Regional Organisations.  The Secretary General on the occasion of 29th anniversary of BIMSTEC, extended, on behalf of the BIMSTEC Secretariat, his warm greetings and best wishes to the governments and peoples of the member States (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand). BIMSTEC member States, located contiguous and close to Bay of Bengal, the largest Bay of the world, face similar developmental and transnational security challenges, which, they realize, they cannot deal with alone.  "Hence, they are keen to forge regional cooperation under BIMSTEC," said the SG. He said their shared historical experiences, cultural linkages and civilization legacies provide a strong foundation for forging regional cooperation.  A significant part of global trade and energy flows through the waters of Bay of Bengal. Since its inception, 29 years ago, BIMSTEC has made significant progress.  It has adopted its own Charter and has institutionalized the requisite core and sectoral mechanisms for forging regional cooperation.

Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday said his visit constituted the "first step" towards elevating Bangladesh-Türkiye relations to a "strategic" level. Minister Fidan, during a courtesy meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, also conveyed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's greetings to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Prime Minister Tarique Rahman thanked the Turkish Foreign Minister for undertaking the visit.  He extended an invitation to President Erdoğan to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time in the near future. Both sides agreed to hold annual Foreign Office Consultations at the level of Foreign Ministers.  It was also decided that annual 2+2 consultations will be held involving Foreign and Defence Minister's of both sides.  In addition, with a view to further strengthening political, economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries, a consultation mechanism in the form of a committee would be established under the respective Foreign Ministers which will involve the concerned ministries of each side, said the Ministry. The meeting reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations.  Discussions focused particularly on the Rohingya issue, climate change, trade and investment, joint production and cooperation, and regional and international matters of mutual interest. From the Bangladesh side, Foreign Minister, Dr Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed, and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir were present during the meeting. The meeting marked the final engagement of the Turkish Foreign Minister’s two-day official visit to Bangladesh. 

Visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday and discussed issues of mutual cooperation between the two countries. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon in the morning, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly said. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed various issues of mutual interest, including matters relating to bilateral relations and cooperation between Bangladesh and Türkiye, he said. Turkey eyes joint investment in Bangladesh as DCCI hosts trade delegation Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and State Minister Shama Obaed, among others, were present during the meeting. Hakan Fidan arrived in Dhaka from Seoul on Thursday night on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh. On Friday, he held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka. Fidan later travelled to Cox’s Bazar to observe the situation of the Rohingya refugees. The Turkish foreign minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka later on Saturday.

Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers, who lost their lives while serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in Kadugli, Sudan, were posthumously honoured with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjöld Medal on Friday. The ceremony marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was held at UN Headquarters in New York. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres handed over the medals to Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury during a commemorative ceremony marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers at UN Headquarters in New York. The fallen peacekeepers Corporal Md Masud Rana, Private Md Jahangir Alam, Private Md Sobuj Mia, Private Md Mominul Islam, Private Shamim Reza and Private Santo Mondol were killed in a drone strike on 13 December 2025 while serving under the UN flag, said the Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York on Saturday.

Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan on Friday visited the Rohingya camps here and emphasised that Bangladesh, which has been hosting over 1.3 million Rohingyas for years, has demonstrated a “historic sacrifice” on behalf of all humanity. “Unfortunately, a humanitarian tragedy is unfolding here. Türkiye’s helping hand has reached out here just as it has everywhere else, but of course, I wish these tragedies did not exist, and I wish we were not in a position where we had to provide aid,” Fidan told the media during his visit to the camp as part of his two-day official trip to Bangladesh. He said they are working in solidarity and coordination with relevant neighbouring countries and organisations to find a lasting and just solution to the Rohingya issue.

Indian High Commissioner-designate to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi on Friday received the Letters of Credence for his appointment as the High Commissioner of India to the People's Republic of Bangladesh from President of India Droupadi Murmu. He will be taking up his assignment in Dhaka shortly. Trivedi was a Union Minister for Railways and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime, as a member of the Trinamool Congress. PM thanks Indian counterpart Modi for Eid greetings He resigned from the TMC on February 12, 2021 and joined the BJP on March 6, 2021.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the protection of cultural property has been signed between Bangladesh and Türkiye, marking a new milestone in the existing historical and cultural ties between the two countries. The MoU was signed on Friday at a formal ceremony held in Dhaka. On behalf of the government of Bangladesh, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, and on behalf of the government of the Republic of Türkiye, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan signed the MoU. Bangladesh, Türkiye seek stronger economic partnership through strategic investment The ceremony was attended by Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Khalilur Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, as special guests. Senior officials from the Ministries of Cultural Affairs and Foreign Affairs of both countries, along with a high-level delegation from Türkiye, were also present. The MoU aims to strengthen long-term institutional cooperation between Bangladesh and Türkiye in the preservation, protection, restoration, and promotion of cultural heritage. Under the MoU, both countries will collaborate in the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, archival documents, library materials, museum management, digitization, and restoration initiatives. It has been developed in continuation of the cultural agreement signed between the two countries on March 09, 1981, and the cooperation programme signed on April 12, 2012, covering education, science, culture, arts, press and information, youth, and sports. Under the framework of the MoU, Bangladesh and Türkiye will work jointly in line with the UNESCO 1970 convention to prevent the illicit import, export, and transfer of ownership of cultural property. The two countries will also enhance cooperation in archaeological research, application of modern technologies, disaster risk reduction, documentation, and inventory mapping of cultural resources. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Cultural Affairs Nitai Roy Chowdhury said this MoU will further deepen and expand the historic and friendly relations between Bangladesh and Türkiye. "The advanced archaeological technologies and expertise of Türkiye will play an important role in preserving Bangladesh’s rich cultural heritage," he said. Foreign Minister of Türkiye praised Bangladesh’s rich history and cultural legacy and reaffirmed Türkiye’s full support and cooperation for the successful implementation of the agreement. The signing of this MoU is expected to open a new horizon of cultural cooperation between Bangladesh and Türkiye and serve as a significant milestone in safeguarding the shared values of heritage and civilization, Bangladesh said.

Noting that Bangladesh is at a very important moment, UNDP’s outgoing Resident Representative in Bangladesh Stefan Liller has said utimately, the interests of the Bangladeshi people are best served when political actors can compete, disagree, and still work within shared democratic rules. "Political differences are natural in any democracy. The strength of democratic culture lies not in avoiding disagreement, but in creating institutions where disagreement can be expressed peacefully, responsibly and constructively," he told UNB in an exclusive interview.  The UN official, who is set to end his four-year tenure in Bangladesh soon, said accepting different voices and views is not a weakness; it is part of how democratic institutions become stronger.  In Bangladesh, as in many countries emerging from a period of intense political contestation, building a culture of restraint, inclusion and consensus will be essential for lasting stability and growth, he said, highlighting the importance of dialogue and democratic culture.  He said the political transition, the election, and the formation of a new government have created both renewed hope and significant public expectations.  At the request of national counterparts, UNDP supported the Bangladesh Election Commission through technical and institutional assistance for the recent national election.  "But elections are not the end of a democratic process. Their value is also tested in what follows: whether institutions are strengthened, whether citizens feel heard, and whether public trust is rebuilt through visible and credible change," said Stefan Liller. He is a Swedish development worker with over 20 years of experience in serving the United Nations (UNDP and UNODC) at headquarters, regional and country office levels in Asia, Latin America, Europe and CIS and Africa. Talking about institutional trust, Liller said citizens need to see that institutions are independent, fair, responsive and accountable.  "This includes electoral institutions, the judiciary, Parliament, oversight public administration, local government and security institutions. Reform is not a technical undertaking," he said .  Over time, it must be felt by people in their everyday lives and livelihoods, and in a stronger, fairer relationship between citizens and the state, Liller said. A second priority is inclusion, especially the meaningful participation and leadership of women, he said. He said women represent half of Bangladesh’s population, and the country cannot reach its full potential if women’s voices, leadership and economic participation are not fully reflected in national life. "This means supporting women’s leadership from communities to courts, from local government to the private sector, and from Parliament to Cabinet," Liller said, noting that Bangladesh has a proud history of women’s leadership at all levels, and it is important that progress does not move backwards - women’s participation must deepen. Finally, the UN official said, reforms must deliver. "Given the nature of the current transition, expectations are understandably high." He said people will judge this moment not only by announcements, but by whether they see improvements in justice, services, jobs, social protection, safety, accountability and dignity.  The UN official said Bangladesh has the capacity to make this transition meaningful and the key will be to sustain reform developments with patience, openness, and a focus on all citizens.  "I sincerely hope the present government will be able to continue progressing this forward in a way that strengthens institutions, builds trust and serves the people of Bangladesh," he said.  Since 1972, UNDP has stood alongside #Bangladesh as a "trusted" development partner, evolving its work with the development priorities of successive governments and the aspirations of its people.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Faiyaz Murshid Kazi paid a farewell call on Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, executive secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), at its Secretariat in Bangkok on Friday. During the meeting, they exchanged views on regional and global developments, the importance of multilateral cooperation, and the role of ESCAP in addressing common challenges, particularly for Asia-Pacific countries. The ESCAP executive secretary expressed appreciation for Ambassador Faiyaz Murshid’s leadership and contribution to advancing regional cooperation and sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting concluded with mutual appreciation and best wishes for continued success in their future endeavours.