United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday urged former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to assist Bangladesh in its bid to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “As Bangladesh is actively seeking ASEAN membership, Professor Yunus sincerely requested Mahathir Mohamad to look into the matter, leveraging his stature and reputation,” CA’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters on the outcome of the meeting between Prof Yunus and Mahathir Mohamad held on the sidelines of the Nikkei Forum: 30th Future of Asia. They discussed issues of mutual interest during the 40-minute meeting, including Bangladesh’s desire to become an ASEAN member and Rohingya repatriation. The Press Secretary said Mahathir assured he would always remain a friend of Bangladesh and pledged his support in Bangladesh's efforts to secure ASEAN membership. Bangladesh applied to become a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN several years ago with the aim of becoming a full member. Malaysia is the current chair of the South East Asian grouping. “We need Malaysia’s support to become an ASEAN member,” the Chief Adviser told Mahathir, who played a key role in establishing ASEAN as a powerful regional body during his time as the Malaysian Prime Minister. After delivering his speech at the Nikkei Forum, the Press Secretary said Prof Yunus met with Dr Mahathir and revisited the memories they shared during their decades-long friendship. Since Mahathir will turn 100 years old on July 10, he said the Chief Adviser wished him an advance 'Happy Birthday' and conveyed his birthday wishes. “I wish you a very happy 100th birthday in advance,” the Chief Adviser told Mahathir, who served as Malaysian Prime Minister for 24 years from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020. The Press Secretary said the two leaders also discussed the historic mass uprising that Bangladesh witnessed last year. He said they talked about the professionalism and sincerity with which Bangladeshis are working around the world, which has earned the country a solid reputation globally. CA Prof Yunus looks forward to meeting with Japanese PM The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh is also thankful to Malaysia, as the country employed hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi people in the country in various sectors. “In every village of Bangladesh, people know about Malaysia because people travel to the country for employment,” he said. Mahathir said many Bangladeshis also established businesses in Malaysia and were doing well as entrepreneurs. Mahathir recalled how Malaysia thrived due to his Look East policy and asked Bangladesh to undertake similar policies. The Chief Adviser said that Bangladesh was also trying to increase its trade and bilateral relations with Malaysia’s neighbouring country, Indonesia, which, unlike Malaysia, is not a household name in Bangladesh. Professor Yunus also requested Mahathir to use his influence to resolve the Rohingya crisis. The Press Secretary said Prof Yunus invited Dr Mahathir to visit Bangladesh at a time convenient for him. The 99-year-old Mahathir said he would accept the invitation only if he was allowed by his physicians, who had restricted his travel due to his health condition. Bangladeshi peacekeepers continue to uphold Bangladesh’s global image: Prof Yunus Earlier, in his keynote address at the inaugural session of the Nikkei Forum: 30th Future of Asia, the Chief Adviser called on Asian nations to chart a new course of cooperation, inclusion, and sustainability. He also outlined a seven-point agenda aimed at transforming Asia into a hub of shared prosperity by unlocking new opportunities. Prof Yunus arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday afternoon to attend the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia and hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.     

A regional association of Southeast Asian nations is set to hold a three-way summit Tuesday with China and six Gulf countries in what officials called an effort to bolster economic resilience as they grapple with global volatility and U.S. tariffs. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, opening a summit in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council, said a stronger ASEAN-GCC relationship would be key to enhancing interregional collaboration, building resilience and securing sustainable prosperity. ASEAN, China, and GCC cooperation will boost global stability and growth: Experts Chinese Premier Li Qiang will join the two blocs in their first such meeting later Tuesday, as Beijing seeks to present itself as a reliable ally to the region. “I believe the ASEAN-GCC partnership has never been more important than it is today, as we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape marked by economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges,” Anwar said. Malaysia is the current chair of ASEAN, which also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah said the two blocs, which held their first summit in Riyadh in 2023, would build on their momentum to deepen cooperation and “improve our ability to face crisis.” He said the GCC is ASEAN's seventh largest trade partner, with total trade reaching $130.7 billion in 2023. The GCC comprises the oil-producing nations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Anwar said last week the GCC already has strong links with the U.S. and “wants to be close to China too.” ASEAN has maintained a policy of neutrality, engaging both Beijing and the United States, but U.S. President Donald Trump's threats sweeping tariffs came as a blow. Six of the bloc's members were among the worst hit, with tariffs between 32% and 49%. Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs in April for most of the world, and this month struck a similar deal with key rival China, easing trade war tensions. Anwar is seeking an ASEAN summit with Trump on the tariffs. Premier Li Qiang to visit Indonesia, attend ASEAN-GCC Summit to boost regional cooperation Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs, strategy and security analyst with Universiti Malaya, said ASEAN is seen as tilting towards China and has failed to take strong action against Beijing's aggression in the disputed South China Sea. ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims with China, which asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. While relying on U.S. defense support, ASEAN is increasing reliance and partnership with China and other U.S. rivals, Chong said. “If this continues under the current Trump administration, it will create further room for Washington to distance itself from the region, which will spell disaster and create an even deeper Chinese presence,” he said.  

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday sought support from the elite of Thai society in Dhaka’s efforts to join the Association of South East Asian Nations. "That is where our future is,” the Chief Adviser told Thai dignitaries at a breakfast meeting at a hotel in the Thai capital city. Bangladesh has planned to join the ASEAN as its sectoral dialogue partner, but Professor Yunus said the ultimate goal is to join as a full member of the key regional group. The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh believes in multilateralism, and it is a proud member of SAARC and BIMSTEC. He said the regional groups should step up their efforts to foster economic growth and bring people closer. ASEAN MPs look to bar Myanmar from BIMSTEC over human rights concerns Thai leaders, including former Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former deputy prime minister, top business leaders; bankers; academics and civil society leaders, joined the meeting, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh hopes to get support from top ASEAN nations, including Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, for the membership. Prof Yunus also stressed greater collaboration between peoples of Thailand and Bangladesh, saying both nations share similar histories and challenges. "This will be the beginning of the relationship we want to build," he said, referring to the meeting. The Chief Adviser also weighed in on the recent development in global trade, saying the world could use the "disorder" to its benefits. "Disorder can shake up things," he said, adding, "We need greater collaboration. Can we rethink a new business model?" The Chief Adviser highlighted recent changes in Bangladesh and the student-led uprising, which has toppled a brutal dictatorship and helped usher in a new era in the country. Bangladesh seeks Philippines' support for Asean partnership, Rohingya crisis solution Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, High Representative of the CA, Dr Khalilur Rahman, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin were also present during the meeting.

The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) on Wednesday strongly condemned the decision to invite the "illegitimate" Myanmar military junta to participate in the upcoming Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) meeting in Bangkok on April 3-4. APHR called on BIMSTEC member states, particularly Thailand and India, to reject the junta’s participation and take decisive action in support of democracy and human rights. If BIMSTEC seeks to be a credible regional actor, it must prove that it stands for justice, not complicity, APHR said in a statement from Jakarta. “Engaging the Myanmar junta without demanding concrete commitments to human rights and democracy is a betrayal of the people of Myanmar and a stain on BIMSTEC’s reputation,” said Arlene Brosas, APHR Board Member and Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. As one of the founding countries of BIMSTEC and the host of its 6th Summit, Thailand must take a principled stand and reject the junta’s participation. Dr Yunus' remarks on Northeast India made with good intentions: High Representative Allowing the military regime a seat at the table not only legitimizes its brutal rule but also undermines BIMSTEC’s credibility as a regional organization committed to peace, stability, and development, it said in a statement. Since its illegal coup on 1 February 2021, Myanmar’s military has committed grave human rights violations, including the killing of thousands of civilians, arbitrary arrests of opposition figures and activists, and the dismantling of democratic institutions. Most recently, military forces bombed affected regions, including Sagaing, just hours after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The junta has systematically blocked aid and refused international rescue assistance, repeating its callous response to past disasters like Cyclone Nargis. “The Myanmar military has shown complete disregard for human rights, humanitarian principles, and the rule of law. By engaging with the junta, BIMSTEC is not promoting diplomacy—it is endorsing oppression,” said Mercy Chriesty Barends, APHR Chairperson and Member of the House of Representatives of Indonesia. Unlike ASEAN, which has at least attempted to address the Myanmar crisis through its Five-Point Consensus, BIMSTEC has remained largely silent. Its failure to take action raises serious concerns about the bloc’s commitment to democratic governance and human rights. BIMSTEC Sidelines: Yunus, Modi first-ever in-person meeting set for April 4 “The people of Myanmar continue to resist military oppression at great personal cost. Yet, instead of supporting their struggle, BIMSTEC is handing the junta a platform,” said Rangsiman Rome, APHR Board Member and Member of the House of Representatives of Thailand. “Thailand, as the host of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, has a responsibility to lead with integrity and take a clear stand against the junta’s participation.” Despite its economic and geopolitical ambitions, BIMSTEC has yet to demonstrate a meaningful commitment to addressing security threats posed by state repression. By engaging the illegitimate Myanmar junta without conditions, it undermines the very stability it claims to promote. APHR believes that economic cooperation cannot be separated from human rights. A regime that wages war on its people cannot be a trusted partner in regional development. “BIMSTEC must not turn a blind eye to authoritarianism,” said Angelina Sarmento, APHR Board Member and Member of the Parliament of Timor Leste. “Its engagement with Myanmar must be principled and centered on the victims, not their oppressors.”

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta has assured Bangladesh's interim government of his efforts to secure ASEAN’s support for the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. “And his excellency has assured us as an ASEAN member that he will try his best to make sure that ASEAN supports us in the Rohingya issues,” Dr Yunus said  at a joint press conference at his office on Sunday after a bilateral meeting with Ramos .  “So, we discussed in detail how this can be achieved. How to make the international opinion go towards the repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh back to Myanmar,” he said. Timor-Leste President seeks to boost trade ties with Bangladesh The Chief Adviser said Ramos-Horta will be a strong support for Bangladesh. Dr Yunus said Timor-Leste is set to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) soon.  Earlier, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Timor-Leste President held "fruitful discussions" and shared their ideas to take the relations between the two countries to a new height. They witnessed the signing of two instruments -- MoU on bilateral consultations mechanism and agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders -- to further strengthen the relations. The two leaders had a tete-a-tete which was followed by a delegation-level meeting. CA Yunus, Timor-Leste President hold fruitful meeting, eye closer ties Earlier in the morning, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain met President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta and discussed issues of mutual interest. He was on Saturday night accorded a red carpet reception on his arrival here on a four-day official visit. The Chief Adviser received President Ramos-Horta at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on his arrival around 10:40pm.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday sought Indonesia’s support for Bangladesh’s membership in ASEAN and also urged the Southeast Asian country to create more opportunities for Bangladeshi businesses. The Chief Adviser made the call when the Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Heru Hartanto Subolo, paid him a farewell visit at his office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. “I hope Indonesia will help us get the membership of ASEAN. This is very important for us,” Prof Yunus told the ambassador. The Chief Adviser said that he also discussed the issue with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the latter’s recent visit to Bangladesh, as the country is set to assume the chair of ASEAN in January. Ambassador Subolo conveyed his country’s support for Bangladesh’s Interim Government and said that Indonesia would closely follow Bangladesh’s application to become an ASEAN member. Bangladesh's success under Prof Yunus is in India's best interest: American-Indian businessman Khosla “Indonesia stands ready to support Bangladesh in all possible ways. Hopefully it will be beneficial for both countries,” he said. The Chief Adviser recalled his multiple visits to Indonesia to promote microcredit and said that from his experience he found very thin presence of Bangladeshi businesses in Indonesia. “One thing is regrettable that there are not many Bangladeshis in Indonesia. They are everywhere but not in Indonesia,” said the Chief Adviser. “Indonesia is the largest Muslim country. But people of the country are not much aware of Bangladesh. Somehow we are not interacting much,” he noted. “We must find a way to bring us closer,” he said. He also urged Indonesia to enroll more Bangladeshi students in their universities, hire more Bangladeshi doctors, and import pharmaceutical items from Bangladesh. Ambassador Subolo promised to work on increasing business cooperation between Bangladesh and Indonesia. He expressed satisfaction with the signing of the MoU between Pertamina Power Indonesia and Coal Generation Company Bangladesh Limited concerning the Solar PV investment project in Matarbari and other areas in July 2024. The Chief Adviser congratulated new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on assuming office and invited him to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared her recent six-day trip to Thailand as a landmark success, aimed at safeguarding Bangladesh's economic interests and elevating its regional presence. The visit, which took place from April 24 to April 29, was prompted by an invitation from Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. During a press briefing at her official residence, Ganabhaban, today (May 02, 2024), Prime Minister Hasina said, "Overall, this visit was a significant step forward in our efforts to protect our economic interests and enhance our regional involvement." The trip included a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings, underscoring a commitment to strengthening ties between Bangladesh and Thailand. PM Hasina to discuss outcomes of Thailand visit at media briefing today "This official visit will serve as a milestone in our bilateral relationship and ushers in a new era of fruitful partnerships," stated Prime Minister Hasina. She also highlighted the importance of her visit to Thailand, an influential ASEAN member, as being crucial for advancing economic and diplomatic ties. "The visit will play an important role in enhancing our bilateral economic relations, including advancing talks on a free trade agreement, boosting communication, and more," she elaborated. Furthermore, Prime Minister Hasina expressed optimism regarding the impact of her discussions with Prime Minister Thavisin on the issue of Rohingya repatriation. She was also hopeful that her discussions with the Thai Prime Minister will encourage Thailand to adopt a stronger stance on the speedy repatriation of Rohingyas, both bilaterally and within the ASEAN framework. Govt steps brought unemployment down to 3 percent: PM Hasina  Prime Minister Hasina also pointed out that the visit is expected to significantly support Bangladesh's bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner by 2024, marking a significant step in its diplomatic endeavors in the region.

The 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related summits kicked off in Indonesia's Jakarta on Tuesday (September 05, 2023), with the focus on establishing the region as an epicenter of economic growth. Addressing the opening ceremony, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, whose country is holding the rotating ASEAN chair this year, urged ASEAN to stay united and not be a proxy to any power. "Don't make our ship, ASEAN, become an arena of rivalry that causes damages to each other. Make our ship the foundation to build cooperation and create prosperity, stability and peace, not only for the region but also for the world," he said. During the next three days, leaders of ASEAN member nations are expected to discuss issues that would chart the future of ASEAN as a community and an institution. Read: President Shahabuddin in Indonesia to attend ASEAN Summit, East Asia Summit This includes steps to speed up the decision-making in crises and emergencies, as well as steps to bolster ASEAN's capacity to respond to emerging challenges in the region. The summit under Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship this year is themed "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth." In the past decade, ASEAN's average annual growth reached 3.98 percent, above the global economic growth of 2.6 percent, showed ASEAN data. Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Read: Southeast Asian leaders are besieged by thorny issues as they hold an ASEAN summit without Biden

President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday (September 04, 2023) left for Jakarta, Indonesia to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and 18th East Asia Summit to be held on September 5-7. A regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the President along with his spouse Prof Rebecca Sultana and other entourage members, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) International Airport (HSIA) for Jakarta at 8:30 am. Among others, Chairperson of Bangladesh National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Saima Wazed and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will accompany the President during the visit. Read: Southeast Asian leaders are besieged by thorny issues as they hold an ASEAN summit without Biden Shahabuddin has been invited by the President of the Republic of Indonesia and ASEAN Chair for 2023 Joko Widodo, Press secretary Joynal Abedin said. With the theme of "Asean Matters: Epicentrum of Growth", the ASEAN Summit will be held with a hectic agenda for three days. The Bangladesh president, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, will also attend the 'East Asia Summit' slated for September 7. Alongside, the president will deliver the concluding speech on "Strengthening Regional Architecture to Support the Epicentrum of Growth from the Perspective of IORA" as the "Guest of Chair" there. He will also have separate bilateral meetings with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo and state leaders of Thailand, Malaysia and Timor-Leste. On September 6, the president will attend a 'Gala Dinner' to be hosted by the Indonesian president at Hutan Kota Gelora Bung Karno. Read: ASEAN’s collective market holds significant promise for Bangladesh’s economic growth: Momen Joko Widodo will chair 12 meetings during the 43rd ASEAN Summit. The ASEAN is an intergovernmental organization of 11 Southeast Asian countries - Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor Leste or East Timor. The ASEAN Summit is a biannual meeting held by its members. The Indonesian president will also chair the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS), which consists of 18 members, including the 10 ASEAN countries, the United States, the Russian Federation, New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and India, according to the ASEAN secretariat. The leaders of the Pacific Island Forum, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank (World Bank) are also reportedly planning to attend the ASEAN Summit. From Jakarta President Shahabuddin along with his spouse will will go to Singapore for a health check-up. He is expected to return home from Singapore on September 16, according to the revised schedule. Read: US Deputy Assistant Secretary Mira Resnick in Dhaka

The Myanmar pro-democracy movement must listen to the calls of women and ethnic groups and their vision for federalism, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) said today. On June 29, APHR held a closed-door meeting with women’s rights defenders and activists from Myanmar civil society groups in Chiang Mai, Thailand as part of a series of discussions that aim to provide a platform for gendered perspectives on the crisis in the country, including topics such as federalism, patriarchy, and ethnic inclusion.  UN shines light on humanitarian crisis in Myanmar As long as there has been a civil war in Myanmar, there has been a struggle for ethnic autonomy, including the rights to their land, language, health care, education and traditions. For women, in addition to the fight for ethnic equality, has also been for gender equality. In the current context of post-coup Myanmar, new challenges have emerged and a new struggle for equality across all genders and ethnicities.  “The commitment and dedication of women to Myanmar’s struggle for democracy is evident across the movement,” said APHR Board Member and former Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya. “Federalism cannot exist in Myanmar without democracy, and certainly not without the contributions of women.” US sanctions Myanmar’s defense ministry, 2 regime-controlled banks “The history of Burma is rooted in ongoing conflict. When we look at the creators of conflict, it is very clear it is the Myanmar junta. Women have always been involved in revolutionary acts because we believe in genuine peace,” said Moon Nay Li, Joint General Secretary of the Women’s League of Burma .  While pro-democracy bodies, including the National Unity Government, the National Unity Consultative Council and the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, have called for federalism to defeat the junta, women-led organizations and activists are advocating for a future that is gender-equal as well as federal. Dhaka seeks ASEAN’s active role for repatriation of Rohingyas “Too often, women are told that their pursuits for gender equality are of lesser importance amidst the shared struggle to defeat the junta. These struggles are interconnected as the commitment to end military rule is rooted in ending patriarchal norms and institutions,” said APHR member and member of the Philippines House of Representatives Arlene Brosas. “Women’s rights defenders are critical actors in the pro-democracy movement, and their voices must be amplified to ensure their needs are met and perspectives are heard.” ASEAN leader acknowledges no progress toward ending Myanmar's deadly civil strife During the meeting, the women’s rights defenders and activists were very clear that more reflection needed to be done on how the ‘pro-democracy’ movement is currently progressing. For many, this includes inner work, primarily from the Bamar majority, on how to ‘unlearn’ certain attitudes and beliefs which stem from Burmanization and the patriarchy. Calls were also made to the international community to engage with pro-democracy stakeholders, and not the regime.  “The international community, including ASEAN, must support women human rights defenders and their calls for a more inclusive vision of federalism in Myanmar. Defeating the junta is imperative, but without the participation of women and ethnic people, a democratic Myanmar cannot be sustainable,” said APHR Chair and member of Indonesian House of Representatives Mercy Barends. Alarm over Myanmar, sea feud under ASEAN summit spotlight