United News of Bangladesh

Disney will build its seventh theme park, this one in the United Arab Emirates, the entertainment company said Wednesday. The waterfront resort will be built on Yas Island on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi city, already home to Formula One’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Ferrari and Warner Bros. amusement parks, SeaWorld and a waterpark, AP reports. Disney and Miral, the Abu Dhabi developer overseeing the project, hope to capitalize on the 120 million airline passengers that travel through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year. While long viewed as more buttoned up than the beaches and raucous nightlife in neighboring Dubai, Abu Dhabi also is home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and there are more museums currently under construction. Disney Bets Big on Live-Action Remakes of Lilo & Stitch and Moana The theme park announcement is being made ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump to the region next week. Trump has promised a series of business deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. The theme park will be built and operated by Miral, but Disney will handle the design and development. Disney will also license its intellectual property and provide development and management services, according to a regulatory filing. The California company will not be providing any capital for the project. It will earn royalties based on the resort’s revenues. It will also earn service fees. Miral has been involved in the development of almost all of the entertainment complexes built on the island. A projected opening date has not been announced. Shares of Disney, which also reported second-quarter financial results on Wednesday that beat Wall Street's expectations, jumped more than 9% in morning trading.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has made significant progress in resuming visa issuance for Bangladeshi nationals, following “sustained diplomatic engagement” between the two countries, officials said. Meanwhile, a high-level UAE cabinet delegation is scheduled to visit Bangladesh later this month to further advance bilateral cooperation. UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdulla Ali ALHmoudi Sunday called on the Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi at his office and discussed issues of mutual interest. Ambassador ALHmoudi informed the Special Envoy that the UAE Embassy in Dhaka is now issuing between 30 and 50 visit visas daily. Additionally, bulk visa processing for business delegations has been expedited, enhancing people-to-people and commercial exchanges. In a major development, the UAE Ministry of Human Resources has reactivated its online system for skilled employment visas, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad. During the meeting, the Ambassador expressed appreciation for Siddiqi’s active engagement with the UAE government in recent weeks, which included over half a dozen ministerial visits focusing on issues ranging from visa facilitation to investment cooperation. MoFA's FB page hacking: All urged not to engage with posts Visas for professionals such as marketing managers and hotel staff have been issued in recent weeks. Furthermore, 500 visas for security guards have already been granted, with another 1,000 approved and set for issuance shortly. It is expected that the UAE will progressively ease visa restrictions further over time. The Ambassador also assured continued flexibility in considering humanitarian and compassionate cases flagged by the Bangladeshi authorities. Special Envoy Siddiqi welcomed the developments and thanked Ambassador ALHmoudi for his openness and support. He also expressed gratitude for the launch of negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), noting that the two sides have already agreed on terms of reference.  

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) has signed a lease agreement with Lee’s Tobacco Machinery Company Limited, a UAE and Singapore-owned company, a move to diversify the range of products. This agreement marks the establishment of the first machinery manufacturing industry in the BEPZA Economic Zone (EZ), further enhancing the zone’s diverse product line, according to a press release. Md. Ashraful Kabir, Member, investment promotion of BEPZA, and Li Meng, Chairman of Lee’s Tobacco Machinery Company Limited, signed an agreement in presence of BEPZA Executive Chairman, Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman ndc, psc. The company plans to invest US$ 8.32 million in the project, which will create employment opportunities for 92 Bangladeshi nationals. The factory will produce tobacco and cigarette machinery, a new and diversified product to be manufactured in the EPZs and EZs under BEPZA. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chairman of Lee’s Tobacco Machinery Li Meng, expressed his commitment to focusing on BEPZA’s potential and encouraging other investors to consider the EPZs and EZs. He assured BEPZA of his company’s dedication to transferring specialized knowledge and expertise in machinery production to Bangladeshi workers. BEPZA attracted 29 percent of total FDI last fiscal year, says its Chairman “It will help build a skilled workforce capable of producing machinery that is new to the country’s industrial landscape,” he added. Li also shared plans to establish two more industries in the BEPZA EZ in the near future, further enhancing the zone’s industrial capabilities. BEPZA Executive Chairman Ziaur Rahman thanked Lee’s Tobacco Machinery Company Limited for choosing BEPZA’s EZ as their investment destination and assured them of all necessary support to ensure smooth operations.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has invited Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to attend the World Governments Summit 2025 which will be held in Dubai in February. Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, UAE Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum extended the invitation to Dr Yunus during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss city, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. CA Dr Yunus begins hectic 2nd day in Davos with 14 meetings lined up The World Governments Summit is scheduled to take place from February 11 to 13 this year. Dr Yunus has also been requested to take three young advisers of the interim government to accompany him during the Summit so that they can share with the global audience how they led the July uprising against fallen Sheikh Hasina. Both sides highlighted the potential of young people in leading the world. "We want to build a new Bangladesh," Dr Yunus said.

The government has cancelled the contractual appointments of three ambassadors posted in the United States, Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Public Administration Ministry issued an order cancelling their appointments (remaining tenure) on Monday. They are- Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Kamrul Ahsan, Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran and Ambassador to the UAE Mohammed Abu Zafar. 454 government law officers appointed in Ctg, Sylhet The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will announce names of new ambassadors to these three important missions abroad after completion of the appointment process.  

The Bangladeshi-flagged vessel MV Abdullah, recently liberated from Somali pirates, is scheduled to depart Al-Hamriya Port in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladesh today (April 28, 2024) at noon, officials confirmed. The vessel, which had been hijacked for 33 days, successfully unloaded 55,000 metric tonnes of coal at Al-Hamriya Port yesterday. The owner, KSRM Group, announced that the vessel and its crew of 23 sailors are expected to arrive at Chattogram Port by mid-May. Mizanul Islam, a spokesperson for the Chattogram-based KSRM Group, reported that the loading operations were completed yesterday, and the vessel is now ready to embark on its journey back to Bangladesh. MV Abdullah reaches Dubai’s Al Hamriya Port MV Abdullah initially anchored at the UAE port on the evening of April 22, following its release from pirate captivity. Distinguished guests including Mohammad Abu Jafar, the Bangladesh Ambassador, and officials from SR Shipping, the vessel's operating company, were present to welcome the crew upon their arrival. The ship first arrived at the outer anchorage of the port on April 21, following its ordeal which began on March 12 when it was seized by Somali pirates about 600 nautical miles off the Somali coast en route from Mozambique to Dubai. The pirates took control of the vessel and its crew, holding them until a ransom of Tk 55 crore facilitated their release on the night of April 13. Family counting days for safe return of MV Abdullah's chief engineer Following the release, MV Abdullah headed to Al-Hamriya Port under the escort of an EU NAVFOR warship, navigating through approximately 480 nautical miles of high-risk areas along the Somali coast and the Red Sea before reaching the safety of the United Arab Emirates. This voyage marks a significant step towards recovery after the harrowing pirate attack, with the crew looking forward to a safe return to their homeland. Previous experience used to rescue MV Abdullah, crew: KSRM

Eleven out of the 23 crew members of a Bangladeshi cargo vessel, MV Abdullah, that was hijacked by a group of Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, are residents of Chattogram. Earlier on Tuesday, the ship, carrying coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE, was attacked around noon. MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines – a sister company of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group. All crew members are being held hostage by the pirates, said KSRM’s media adviser Mizanul Islam. Bangladesh cargo vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in Indian Ocean The crew members are: Captain Mohammad Abdur Rashid, Chief Officer Mohammad Atikullah Khan, Second Officer Mazharul Islam Chowdhury, Third Officer Tarequl Islam, Deck Cadet Sabbir Hossain, Chief Engineer ASM Saiduzzaman, Second Officer Toufiqul Islam, Third Engineer Rokon Uddin, Fourth Engineer Tanvir Ahmed, Engine Cadet Ayub Khan, electrician Ibrahim Khalil, seaman Md Anwarul Haque, seaman Md Asifur Rahman, seaman Sazzad Hossain, seaman Joy Mahmud, seaman Nazmul Haque, seaman Ainul Haque, oiler Mohamamd Shamsuddin, Ali Hossain, fireman Mosharraf Hossain Shakil, chief cook Shafiqul Islam, general steward Nur Uddin, and fitter Saleh Ahmed. KSRM owns 23 ships – all operating on international routes. In 2010, one of the ships, ‘MV Zahan Moni’, was hijacked and was later released by Somali pirates after providing ransom. Read more: 11 crew swim ashore as water enters coal-laden cargo vessel in Pashur River

Bangladesh will import 1.5 million (15 lakh) metric ton of crude oil from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the year 2024. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in a virtual meeting, with Finance Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal, in-principle approved a proposal in this regard. As per proposal of the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), moved by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the crude oil will be imported through direct purchase method (DPM) which means there was no tender or competitive bidding process in selecting the supplier. Dhaka urges Riyadh to consider crude or refined oil on deferred payment basis The proposal mentioned that Saudi Aramco and UAE-based Adnoc will supply the total crude petroleum. While briefing reporters about the outcomes of the Cabinet body's meeting, additional secretary of the Cabinet Division Sayeed Mahbub Khan informed that the cost or price of petroleum was not mentioned in the proposal as it came for in-principal approval. Bangladesh needs to import about 6.5 million metric ton of petroleum oil annually. Of this, about 1.5 million is crude and the remaining amount is refined petroleum. Glitch in brand new pipeline halts transfer of crude oil from mother vessel in Maheshkhali    The Cabinet body approved, in-principle, another proposal -- of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority under the Department of Information and Communication Technology -- to appoint a private company for operation and maintenance work of its “Vision 2041 Smart Tower” in Kawranbazar, Dhaka. The company will operate the building under the "Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Eco-System" project after its construction work.

On a boat off the coast of an island near Abu Dhabi, marine scientist Hamad al-Jailani feels the corals, picked from the reef nursery and packed in a box of seawater, and studies them carefully, making sure they haven't lost their color. The corals were once bleached. Now they're big, healthy and ready to be moved back to their original reefs in the hope they'll thrive once more. "We try to grow them from very small fragments up to — now some of them have reached — the size of my fist," al-Jailani said, who's part of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi's coral restoration program. Also Read: Red Sea corals threatened by mass sea urchin die-off, Israeli researchers say The nursery gives corals the ideal conditions to recover: clear waters with strong currents and the right amount of sunlight. Al-Jailani periodically checks the corals' growth, removes any potentially harmful seaweed and seagrass, and even lets the fish feed off the corals to clean them, until they're healthy enough to be relocated. The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, or EAD, has been rehabilitating and restoring corals since 2021, when reefs off the United Arab Emirates' coast faced their second bleaching event in just five years. EAD's project is one of many initiatives — both public and private — across the country to protect the reefs and the marine life that depend on them in a nation that has come under fire for its large-scale developments and polluting industries that cause harm to underwater ecosystems. There's been some progress, but experts remain concerned for the future of the reefs in a warming world. Also Read: Coral reefs' survival at stake: Unesco Coral bleaching occurs when sea temperatures rise and sun glares flush out algae that give the corals their color, turning them white. Corals can survive bleaching events, but can't effectively support marine life, threatening the populations that depend on them. The UAE lost up to 70% of their corals, especially around Abu Dhabi, in 2017 when water temperatures reached 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit), according to EAD. But al-Jailani said 40-50% of corals survived the second bleaching event in 2021. Although the bleaching events "did wipe out a good portion of our corals," he said, "it did also prove that the corals that we have are actually resilient ... these corals can actually withstand these kind of conditions." Bleaching events are happening more frequently around the world as waters warm due to human-made climate change, caused by the burning of oil, coal and gas that emits heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Other coral reef systems around the world have suffered mass bleaching events, most notably Australia's Great Barrier Reef. How to limit global warming and its effects will be discussed at length at the United Nations climate conference, which will be held in Dubai later this year. Also Read: Rare, pristine coral reef found off Tahiti coast The UAE is one of the world's largest oil producers and has some of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions globally. The country has pledged to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which means all carbon dioxide emissions are either slashed or canceled out somehow, but the goal has been met with skepticism from analysts. But bleaching due to warming weather is not the only threat to coral reefs around the gulf. High oil tanker traffic, fossil-fuel related activities, offshore installations, and the exploitation of marine resources are all putting marine life under intense stress, according to the U.N. Environment Programme, causing them to degrade. Environmentalists have also long criticized the UAE, and Dubai in particular, for its large-scale buildings and huge coastal developments. The building of the Palm Jebel Ali, which began more than a decade ago and has been on hold since 2008, caused an outcry among conservationists after it reportedly destroyed about 8 square kilometers (5 square miles) of reef. "More than 90 million cubic meters (23.8 billion gallons) of sediments were dredged and dropped, more or less on top of one of the remaining reefs near Dubai," said John Henrik Stahl, the dean of the College of Marine Sciences at Khorfakkan University in Sharjah, UAE. The project was meant to be similar to the Palm Jumeirah — a collection of small, artificial islands off the coast of Dubai in the shape of a palm tree. Still, environmental projects persist across the coastline and throughout the emirates. Development company URB has announced it wants to grow 1 billion artificial corals over a 200-square-kilometer area (124 square miles) and 100 million mangrove trees on an 80-kilometer (50-mile) strip of beaches in Dubai by 2040. Still in the research and development phase, the project hopes to create 3D technology to print materials that can host algae, much like corals. Members of Dubai's diving community are also encouraging coral protection efforts. Diving course director Amr Anwar is in the process of creating a certified coral restoration course that teaches divers how to collect and re-plant corals that have fallen after being knocked off by divers' fins or a boat's anchor. "I don't want people to see broken corals and just leave them like that," said Anwar. "Through the training we give people, they would be able to take these broken corals that they find and plant them elsewhere, and then see them grow and watch their progress." But experts say that unless the threat of overheating seas caused by climate change is addressed, coral bleaching events will continue to occur, damaging reefs worldwide. Countries have pledged to limit the global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, after which scientists say the effects of warming on the planet could be much worse, and some even potentially irreversible. But analysts say most nations — including the UAE — are still way off that target. "You have to make sure that the cause for the degradation of the coral reefs in the first place is no longer a threat," said Stahl, the Khorfakkan University scientist. "Otherwise the restoration effort may be for nothing."  

The United Arab Emirates  will continue its cooperation with Bangladesh in the development of its infrastructure and sea ports for mutual benefits. The UAE's newly appointed ambassador to Bangladesh Abdulla Ali  AlHmoudi said this during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on Wednesday (May 17, 2023).  Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting. The UAE envoy said that his county will carry forward the friendship and  cooperation with Bangladesh for economic development. Also Read: Economic cooperation needed among countries in South and Southeast Asia: PM tells outgoing Korean envoy Ali AlHmoudi apprised the prime minister about his meeting with Bangladesh's state minister of civil aviation and tourism regarding the cooperation in the aviation sector. The ambassador recalled that the foundation of the bilateral relation between Bangladesh and the UAE was laid by fathers of the two nations Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan through a visit to the Gulf nation by Bangabandhu in 1974. Later, Sheikh Nahyan also visited Dhaka in 1984 and played a very pivotal role in establishing solid foundation of the bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries, he added. Also Read: PM Hasina: Bangladesh won't buy anything from those who impose sanctions against it During the meeting, the prime minister highly appreciated the UAE leadership as they are going to host the COP-28 summit meeting in November next in Dubai. About Bangladeshi expatriates working in the UAE and Middle Eastern countries, she put emphasis on learning Arabic language by those seeking to go there for jobs. The PM welcomed the new UAE envoy in Dhaka and assured him of providing all cooperation during his stay in Bangladesh. Hasina also conveyed her best wishes to the UAE leadership through the ambassador. Read More: Community clinics model: UN adopts resolution highlighting Sheikh Hasina initiative Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present at the meeting.