Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday and briefed him on the country’s overall security situation. During the meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna, the army chief also briefed the Chief Adviser about the ongoing activities of the Bangladesh Army, said an ISPR media release. He also discussed various measures taken by the army to support national development and stability. General Wakar-uz-Zaman also apprised the Chief Adviser of his recent visit to the Central African Republic and hoped that the trip would strengthen bilateral relations and military cooperation between the two countries. Dr Yunus directs authorities to take necessary preparations for peaceful elections The army chief also provided updates on the recent high-level review and recommendations regarding justice for previously deprived army officers. He also informed the Chief Adviser about the progress of the ongoing senior-level board evaluating the cases of dismissed Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks. The Chief Adviser was also apprised of Bangladesh Army’s initiatives in providing medical treatment to students and civilians injured during the July-August mass uprising. The Chief Adviser appreciated the role and contributions of the army and provided necessary guidance for its future activities. He expressed the hope that the Bangladesh Army would continue to uphold professionalism and dedication in ensuring the country’s sovereignty and security.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday stressed the need for a deepening trade and investment relationship with Qatar. He invited Qatari businesspeople to invest in Bangladesh and relocate their factories to the country's many economic zones. "Bangladesh is now ready for business. We want Qatari businessmen to explore opportunities here in Bangladesh," Dr Yunus said, adding that Dhaka would hold an investment summit in early April. Qatar has extended its full support to the reform agenda of Bangladesh's Interim goverment, the ambassador of the rich Gulf kingdom of Qatar, Seraya Ali Al-Qahtani, said. Ambassador Al-Qahtani called on Dr Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna, where he conveyed the message from his government. "Qatar is eager to provide all sorts of support to Bangladesh," the Qatari ambassador told the chief adviser. Election to be free and festive, Dr Yunus tells US Senator "This is wonderful," Prof Yunus said, thanking the Qatar Emir for the support and for being a close friend of Bangladesh. The Qatari ambassador appreciated the invitation, saying he hopes more business people from his country will visit Bangladesh very soon. Yunus highlighted the reform agenda of his government and the work of the consensus commission to hold dialogue with the political parties. He said he is expected to visit Qatar next month to attend an international conference in the gas-rich Gulf kingdom.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concluded his Ramadan solidarity visit on Sunday morning, expressing his hope that Bangladesh would become one of the most perfect democracies in the world through reforms. Guterres left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:55am on Sunday. UN chief voices “concern” over disinformation targeted against Bangladesh: Foreign Adviser Environment, Forests and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Chief Adviser's High Representative for Rohingya issue Khalilur Rahman saw him off at the airport. Before his departure, the UN Secretary General spoke to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus over the phone and exchanged farewell greetings, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Before leaving Dhaka, Guterres expressed his total solidarity with the efforts that Bangladesh is taking in order to introduce reforms that will make Bangladesh "one of the most perfect democracies" in the world. During his visit, the secretary-general met with top officials, including Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus; Foreign Adviser Md Towhid Hossain, and High Representative Khalilur Rahman. He visited the Rohingya camps to share Ramadan Solidarity Iftar with about 10 million Rohingya when he was accompanied by the Chief Adviser. He also joined a roundtable discussion on reforms, met with Bangladeshi youth representatives and members of the civil society. Guterres, who arrived in Dhaka on March 13, said Bangladesh can count on full support of the UN in its way to provide its citizens a set of institutions which will be able to guide the country towards "sustainable and inclusive" development. During iftar and early dinner hosted by Chief Adviser Dr Yunus on Saturday, Guterres expressed his deep admiration to him and his team for the work they are conducting. He reiterated that Bangladesh can count on the UN's full solidarity in mobilis.ing all their capacities to support the reforms in Bangladesh. Guterres highlighted Bangladesh’s support to the United Nations and its mission, particularly in peacekeeping. Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations, with thousands of soldiers serving in some of the world’s most dangerous environments. UN chief acknowledges people’s hopes for democracy, justice, prosperity “I want to pay tribute to the sacrifices and dedication of Bangladeshi peacekeepers,” he said. Regarding Bangladesh's efforts to support over 1 million Rohingya refugees, Guterres said Bangladesh's generosity is "absolutely outstanding". "You have been a remarkable example....that should be followed," said the UN chief.

Noting that this is a ground zero for the impact of budget cuts on people in desperate need, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday said the international community has an obligation to invest now in that aid for people who have already suffered so much. In this holy month of Ramadan, he appealed to the international community to show solidarity through action and concrete support for the Rohingya people and their Bangladeshi host communities. "We are on the verge of a deep humanitarian crisis. With the announced cuts in financial assistance, we are facing the dramatic risk of having only 40 per cent in 2025 of the resources available for humanitarian aid in 2024. That would be an unmitigated disaster," he said at Camp 20 Extension Ukhiya, stressing that people will suffer and people will die. When Chief Adviser Dr Yunus and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived at the camp at 5:35 pm, they were greeted by Rohingyas waving their hands. Both Dr Yunus and Guterres responded warmly. Later, they joined ‘Ramadan Solidarity Iftar’ with one lakh Rohingyas. UN chief promises to ensure funds for Rohingya humanitarian aid UN agencies — as well as many humanitarian and development NGOs — are confronting the prospect of enormous funding cuts, Guterres said before joining Iftar with the Rohingyas hosted by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the Rohingya camp. This will have a direct and dire impact on people – on whether they have enough food to survive, on basic health care, on other essential services and protection, he said. The entire refugee population depends on humanitarian aid, Guterres said. "Here it is clear, budget reductions are not about numbers on a balance sheet. Funding cuts have dramatic human costs," the UN chief said, adding that ultimately the solution must be found in Myanmar.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Friday visited the under-construction Cox’s Bazar International Airport to inspect its progress. During the visit, he was briefed by officials of the Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh (CAAB) regarding the latest work progress. UN chief Guterres reaches Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar According to CAAB officials, 95 per cent of the construction work has been completed, with the remaining tasks expected to be finished by December this year. The Chief Adviser was also informed that the airport is expected to handle 40 to 50 flights a day once it becomes operational.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived here in the sea-front town on Friday afternoon to attend a number programmes, including a tour to the Rohingya refugee camp. Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam Bir Protik received them upon their arrival at Cox’s Bazar International Airport at around 12:55pm. UN Under-Secretary General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) Rabab Fatima, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam are accompanying them. The chief adviser will visit the under-construction Cox's Bazar International Airport and the Khurushkul Climate Refugee Center before visiting the Rohingya camp. The UN chief will share an Iftar with the refugees, to be hosted by Dr Yunus. The UN chief and Dr Yunus will meet with Rohingya refugees who have been forcibly displaced from their homes in Myanmar. They will also meet with the host Bangladeshi communities who have been so generous in hosting them. Count on UN to help build sustainable, equitable future for all: Guterres tells Dr Yunus "Every Ramadan, I spend time with Muslim communities living in difficult circumstances, to observe the fast with them and help shine a spotlight on their plight. This year I’m in Bangladesh to express my solidarity with Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi people hosting them," Guterres said on his Ramadan solidarity visit.

The health condition of the eight-year-old girl, who is now battling for her life in the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka has deteriorated further, says a spokesperson on Wednesday. “We are very sad…sadly, her health condition has further deteriorated today (Wednesday),” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, seeking doa from all for her recovery. While giving updates on the little girl from Magura at a media briefing at Foreign Service Academy, Alam also said her “CGS” level comes down from four to three. In a medical context, "CGS" can refer to cardiogenic shock, a serious condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Global focus on Rohingya crisis to return through UN chief’s visit: Govt The Press Secretary also said her “brainstem” and “pupil reflex” are also lower than yesterday (Tuesday). He said the doctors at the CMH are putting in their best efforts for the girl’s recovery.    She was initially admitted to Magura General Hospital and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as her condition deteriorated. On Thursday, she was moved to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) before being shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka. CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad and Assistant Press Secretary Suchismita Tithi were present at the media briefing. 

The interim government on Wednesday said UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ scheduled visit from March 13-16 would help redouble global efforts to find an early solution to the Rohingya crisis bringing the crisis to global attention again. “This is an important visit for Bangladesh. We firmly believe that the visit will help bring the crisis to the global spotlight. We expect the UN chief will give a good message to that end,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters at a media briefing at Foreign Service Academy ahead of the UN chief's second visit to Bangladesh.   Alam said the interim government led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus from the very beginning is working to ensure that the Rohingya crisis comes to the global map again despite there being other global crises. “The government wants to make sure that the global focus is there,” he said, adding that the Chief Adviser is highlighting the Rohingya crisis with the international dignitaries. The Press Secretary said the government wants early resolution of the Rohingya crisis so that they can return to their place of origin in Myanmar’s Rakhine State with safety and dignity. “It is a top priority of the interim government.”   Alam said the UN chief, who is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka at 5pm on Thursday, will have a bilateral meeting with Dr Yunus on Friday morning before they together travel to Cox’s Bazar to visit the Rohingya camp. Gambia seeks Bangladesh support in pursuing genocide case against Myanmar He said the humanitarian aid for the Rohingyas declined sharply and hoped that the visit will help find some ways to address the issue and efforts will be redoubled to mobilize aids for the Rohingyas. “We do no not want to see any disruption of funds flow. We do no not want to see their nutritional needs compromised.” Without urgent new funding, monthly rations must be halved to US$6 per person, down from US$12.50 per person – just as refugees prepare to observe Eid, marking the end of Ramadan, said the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned of a critical funding shortfall for its emergency response operations in Bangladesh, jeopardising food assistance for over one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. All Rohingyas receive vouchers that are redeemed for their choice of food at designated retailers in the camps. To sustain full rations, WFP urgently requires US$15 million for April, and US$81 million until the end of 2025. Alam said the visit will also be helpful for mobilizing global support ahead of the UN international conference on the Rohingya crisis to be held in September. He said Finland and Malaysia have also joined as co-sponsors of the event. Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said the UN chief will have two working days mainly on Friday and Saturday though he arrives at 5pm on Thursday. Sharing their engagements in the Rohingya camp, Azad said they expect 1 lakh Rohingya people will join iftar with the Chief Adviser and UN chief together.  Guterres and Dr Yunus will also take part in an Iftar meal with refugees and members of the Bangladeshi host community, recognising the generosity of Bangladesh in sheltering nearly one million Rohingya who fled persecution and violence in Myanmar. The Chief Adviser will leave Dhaka for Cox’s Bazar in the morning (March 14) and return to Dhaka in the evening (same day), Azad said. As part of his annual Ramadan solidarity visit, Guterres will also meet young representatives from civil society. Bangladesh, Japan discuss PPP projects, transport cooperation The Secretary-General has made solidarity visits an annual tradition, beginning during his decade-long tenure as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, when he regularly observed Ramadan alongside displaced and marginalised communities. “Every Ramadan, I undertake a solidarity visit and fast with a Muslim community around the globe. These missions remind the world of the true face of Islam,” Guterres said in his message. “Ramadan embodies the values of compassion, empathy and generosity. It is an opportunity to reconnect with family and community…and I always come away even more inspired by the remarkable sense of peace that fills this season,” he added. UN chief Guterres, in a recent letter to Dr Yunus, expressed the hope that the high-level conference on Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar will renew global focus and help develop broader solutions for their plight. The United Nations will continue to mobilise the international community to support Bangladesh as a host to the Rohingya, Guterres said. “I will continue to exercise my good offices, including through my Special Envoy on the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, to work closely with regional actors, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and other stakeholders, towards a political solution to the crisis in Myanmar, including creating conditions conducive to the safe and voluntary return of the Rohingya to Rakhine,” he wrote. The UN chief has requested his senior managers to provide guidance to the United Nations Country Teams in Bangladesh and Myanmar on how they can maximize humanitarian aid and livelihood support to communities in Rakhine. FA urges Rohingya repatriation roadmap among stakeholders The United Nations will prioritise engagement on this issue, including through the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, in Myanmar, to enable safe, rapid, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access to those in need in Rakhine and throughout Myanmar.” “We await the agreed outcomes and plans for the conference, following Member State consultations, to understand how the United Nations system can best support the process.” He thanked Dr Yunus for his letter, dated 4 February 2025, which was shared with him by High Representative for the Rohingya Crisis and Priority Affairs Khalilur Rahman during their meeting on 7 February. The UN chief also reiterated the strong solidarity of the United Nations with Bangladesh and their support for the transition process under Dr Yunus’ leadership. He said he shared Bangladesh’s concerns regarding the impact of the Rohingya crisis on Bangladesh and the region, as well as the worsening humanitarian situation in Rakhine.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said the Awami League will have to decide regarding the participation of the next national election, stressing that the election commission decides who participates in the election. "They [AL] have to decide if they want to do it, I cannot decide for them," Dr Yunus said in an interview with the BBC at his official residence Jamuna in Dhaka. He says he will hold elections between December 2025 and March 2026, depending on how quickly his government can institute reforms he believes necessary for free and fair elections. "If reforms can be done as quickly as we wish, then December would be the time that we would hold elections. If you have a longer version of reforms, then we may need a few more months." It is unclear if former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled into exile in India, and her party will participate in elections that Dr Yunus’ government hopes to hold later this year, reports BBC. “She is wanted in Bangladesh for alleged crimes against humanity.” Bangladesh's interim leader says he felt "dazzled" when asked to take charge after long-serving prime minister Sheikh Hasina was driven out from power last year. "I had no idea I'd be leading the government," Muhammad Yunus told the BBC. "I had never run a government machine before and had to get the button right. "Once that settled down, we started organising things," the Nobel-prize winning economist said, adding that restoring law and order and fixing the economy were priorities for the country. He said, "Peace and order is the most important thing, and the economy. It's a shattered economy, a devastated economy. "It's as if there's been some terrible tornado for 16 years and we're trying to pick up the pieces." CA Dr Yunus asks labour ministry to reform labour law maintaining global standard Sheikh Hasina was elected prime minister in 2009 and ruled Bangladesh with an iron fist. Members of her Awami League government ruthlessly cracked down on dissent. There were widespread allegations of human rights violations and the murder and jailing of political rivals while she was prime minister. A student-led uprising forced Hasina from office in August. At the behest of protesters, Dr Yunus came back to Bangladesh to lead the new interim government. "We are coming from complete disorder," he said, referring to the violent protests that engulfed Bangladesh last summer. "People getting shot, killed." But almost seven months on, people in Dhaka say law and order has not yet been restored, and that things are not getting better. "Better is a relative term," he said. "If you are comparing it to last year for example at the same time, it looks okay! What is happening right now is no different than any other time." Yunus blamed many of Bangladesh's current woes on the previous government. "I am not supporting that these things should happen. I'm saying that, you have to consider, we are not an ideal country or an ideal city that suddenly we made. It's a continuum of the country that we inherited, a country that's been running for many, many years." Victims of Sheikh Hasina's brutal regime remain angry. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in recent months, demanding she be prosecuted for the deadly crackdown on student protesters. A court in Bangladesh has issued a warrant for her arrest, but India has yet to respond. Hasina to face trial, whether present or in absentia: CA Yunus tells Sky News Now, under Yunus' leadership, there are questions about the safety of those belonging to Sheikh Hasina's political party. In February, several homes of Awami League members, including that of the founder of Bangladesh - Hasina's late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - were vandalised and set on fire after her supporters were told she would give an address on YouTube. In a post on social media, the Awami League accused the interim government of justifying violence. When asked by the BBC about claims by members of the Awami League that Bangladesh is not safe for them, Yunus was quick to defend his government. "There's a court, there's a law, there's a police station, they can go and complain, register their complaints," he said. "You just don't go to a BBC correspondent to complain, you go to the police station to complain and see whether the law is taking its course." The Trump administration's decision to cut foreign aid and effectively end almost all programmes funded by the US Agency for International Development will have an impact on countries like Bangladesh. "It is their decision," said Dr Yunus. "It's been helpful. Because they are doing things that we wanted to get done, like fighting corruption and things like that, which we couldn't afford right away." The United States is the third largest provider of official development assistance to Bangladesh. Last year the US committed $450m in foreign aid. When asked how it will make up the shortfall, Yunus said, "When it happens, we will make do."

Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus on Thursday said Bangladesh’s young generation is confident and prepared to lead, not only in building a new Bangladesh but also in shaping a new world. “The dreams of the young generation are bolder than those of any previous generation. They want to lead in building a new world. Both our sons and daughters are prepared,” he said at the Ekushey Padak distribution function at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here. Dr Yunus said the nation is now stronger, more dynamic and more creative. “The young generation seeks to break free from a decaying, self-destructive civilisation and build a new one based on their dreams. The core objective of this new civilisation will be to ensure equal rights for all people over the world's resources, to guarantee every person the opportunity to dream and realise those dreams and to structure human life in a way that neither disrupts the existence of the planet nor threatens the well-being of all living beings inhabiting it." Bangladesh’s Youth Festival 2025 concludes with a call for change He expressed the high hope for the quick realisation of the youths’ dreams. Fourteen eminent citizens and the Bangladesh women's national football team received the Ekushey Padak 2025 in recognition of their contributions to their respective fields. He also congratulated those who were recognised for their contributions towards shaping the country’s future. As guiding lights of the country, their achievements inspire confidence that Bangladesh will continue to establish itself in a stronger position on the global stage, he said. The Chief Adviser also remembered the courageous people who sacrificed their lives for the country in various struggles—the Language Movement of 1952, the great Liberation War of 1971, and the mass uprising of 2024.