United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Saturday said the government is fully committed to implementing deep, structural reforms to improve the ease of doing business stressing that the government holds the political will and strategic vision to make Bangladesh the most competitive investment destination in South Asia. "Our government possesses the political will, the strategic vision, and the unwavering commitment to make Bangladesh the most competitive investment destination in South Asia," he said while describing the local business community as primary strategic partners. Speaking at the high-level conference titled “Roadmap for Trade, Growth & Economic Diplomacy 2026: Navigating Risks, Leveraging Resilience” in a city hotel, the Foreign Minister and President-elect of the 81st UN General Assembly said they view every foreign ambassador, not just as a diplomat, but as a crucial partner of their development. 
 "We view every business leader here, not just as an investor, or a taxpayer, but a stakeholder in our national success," he added. Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the conference brought together senior government leaders, heads of diplomatic missions, development partners, and representatives from the private sector to chart a forward-looking agenda for Bangladesh’s economic engagement. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education Mahdi Amin, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, among others, spoke at the event. The Foreign Minister said they must remain connected. "We must remain in dialogue. We must get feedbacks from you.... work with us as we rebuild trust and unlock the true vibrant potential of Bangladesh." Today, faced with the energy crisis and developments in the international trade, finance and technology, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also has a clear vision to transform the challenges to new opportunities with three key goals: stabilise, reform and elevate. "We need to convert his vision into concrete action as it comes to our work on economic and trade diplomacy," he said. As the new government begins its work, Dr Khalilur said they have before them the challenge of redesigning their international economic engagements against the backdrop slowing global economic and trade growth, geopolitical tensions, trade policy uncertainties, calamites rising trade barriers and structural shifts in supply chains. Moreover, the ongoing energy crisis has added a new layer of complications, he said. "We are not immune to these developments, which have crucial implications for our approaches to overall policy making, in general, and economic diplomacy, in particular," said the Foreign Minister. This is the very reason why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) decided to organise today's event that brings together our partners and stakeholders for open and purposeful deliberations with a view to helping informed policymaking, he said. "The challenges we face are critical. The growth prospects in our major markets remain in the positive territory but at a moderate level. This is likely to translate into sluggish consumer demand, which will affect our exports to these markets," Dr Khalilur said. He said they will need to compete ever more fiercely in order to maintain and expand our export position. Secondly, he said, financial markets and institutions are increasing affecting production of goods and services. "Trade flows have become increasingly susceptible to movements in interest rates or changes in investor sentiments," Dr Khalilur said. Countries like Bangladesh find it harder to raise capital, pay significantly higher borrowing costs and remain acutely vulnerable to swings in market sentiment, said the Foreign Minister. While advanced economies are able to borrow at roughly 1-4%, the rate for emerging developing countries range typically from 6-12% or even higher. "Thus, our access to affordable and secure financing remains significantly restricted," the Foreign Minister said. Like many other developing countries, Bangladesh remains acutely susceptible to factors such as currency volatility, shifts in risk-taking appetite and financial volatility, said the Foreign Minister. Thirdly, he said, climate vulnerability has introduced another difficulty in access to finance. According to UNCTAD, which recently carried out an Investment Policy Review of Bangladesh, some climate-vulnerable countries are paying an extra 20 billion dollar annually in interest due to their climate risk. "External debt and climate crisis are become intertwined," said the Foreign Minister. Fourthly, he said, the ongoing energy crisis has already caused them to spend more on imported fuel. "Increased fuel prices directly affect our cost of production and competitiveness." "By taking away critical funding that would have gone for development activities, we are likely to witness second round effects of the crisis in the form of reduced funding for development in the years to come," the Foreign Minister said. The International Energy Association opined that the scope of the current energy crisis could be larger than that of the twin oil shocks of the 1970s, which was a major cause for the 1980s to become a lost decade of development for many developing countries. The Foreign Minister said trade tech, which is the intersection of trade, investment and technology, is fast redefining the global economy and trade by making cross border transactions quicker and more efficient through the increasing use of innovations like AI, Internet of Things, Blockchain and 5G. "This poses both a challenge and an opportunity depending on how quickly and effectively countries can take advantage of the fast moving Trade Tech landscape," he said. The conference featured three thematic sessions: 1. The Policy Compass – Advancing Trade & Investment, focusing on policy predictability, market access, and investor confidence, 2 Capital for Growth – Finance, Commerce and Trade, addressing financing reforms and investment mobilisation, 3 The New Stage - Government Policy, AI, Creative Industries and Sport, exploring emerging growth sectors and diversification opportunities. The “Roadmap for Trade, Growth & Economic Diplomacy 2026” was held at a critical juncture of global transitions, risks and uncertainties. The event aims to foster greater coordination between policy and implementation, enhance Bangladesh’s economic diplomacy, and build stronger partnerships with the international community.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will attend the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum which will be held in Brussels, Belgium on February 2. “We will have a number of meetings on the sidelines of the Forum,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. The foreign minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Brussels on Wednesday night and will get two and half days for his engagements in Brussels. Bangladesh, Russia discuss ways to strengthen trade, investment ties He said will have meetings with his counterparts from a number of countries on the sidelines including a Deputy Prime Minister. “Let’s see how many meetings we can accommodate,” said the foreign minister, recalling that he had 17 bilateral meetings within two days on the sidelines of the NAM Summit held in Uganda recently. The foreign minister will return to Dhaka Sunday evening. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell will chair the forum. Russian Ambassador dismisses claims made by BNP’s Gayeshwar The EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum will bring together the EU and its Member States with countries from the East coast of Africa in the West to the Pacific islands in the East. The EU and Indo-Pacific partners will discuss how to address the increasing number of complex economic, environmental, geopolitical, and security challenges that affect both regions. It will include an opening plenary session, three roundtable discussions and a closing session. The Brussels Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum builds on the success of the previous two EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forums held in Paris in February 2022 and in Stockholm in May 2023. It will provide a platform for dialogue, for shaping a collective vision for the region’s future and for identifying practical ways to enhance cooperation and deepen solidarity. Europe and the Indo-Pacific are highly interconnected and interdependent, that is why the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum serves as a crucial platform for fostering dialogue and cooperation between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. What the US State Department said regarding those arrested in Bangladesh The Indo-Pacific region is of key strategic importance, both in economic and geopolitical terms. The 2021 EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific sets out how the EU is stepping up collaboration with Indo-Pacific partners to contribute to the region’s stability, security and prosperity. It is clear that close cooperation is the key to addressing these challenges effectively, achieving sustainable economic growth, and strengthening resilience to shocks and disruptions, according to the European Union. The digital economy, in particular, holds the potential for significant innovation and growth, it said.

Dr Jiaoqun Shi has joined as the new Representative for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Bangladesh. He submitted his credential to Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. Dr Shi, a national of China, holds a Master of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Wuhan University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from the National Academy of Governance in China. British parliamentary delegation visits Beximco Industrial Park He joined FAO in 2019 as Senior Compliance Advisor to the Deputy Director-General at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy and since January 2021, he had been serving as Special Adviser at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr Jiaoqun Shi started his career in 1988 as Researcher in the Xiangfan Prefecture, Government of China, in Xiangfan, China, according to FAO. From 1996 to 2004, he served as Deputy Director of Personnel in the Appointment Division at the Ministry of Finance in Beijing, China. Bangladesh, Canada find many areas for potential collaboration Between 2007 and 2010, he was Director of the General Division at the Ministry of Finance in Beijing, China. In 2009, he worked as Deputy Prefecture Governor for the Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Government in Xiangxi, China. From 2010 to 2016, he served as Deputy Director-General of the General Office at the Ministry of Finance in Beijing, China.  ‘Ready to work with you closely’: UAE Foreign Minister writes to Hasan Mahmud Between 2016 and 2019, he was Deputy Representative at the Permanent Representation of the People’s Republic of China to the three United Nations Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) in Rome, Italy. Dr Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh will lead the planning and implementation of FAO programmes in Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday assured local and international partners that the government remains sensitized to its obligations and responsibilities for environmental and ecological protection, and have been advancing towards fulfilling those obligations in a coordinated, decisive and phased manner. "We believe it is imperative to place ecology at the fulcrum of national, regional and global policies to combat growing threats to the world’s food, water and survival systems," he said. Momen said Bangladesh’s commitment to ecology and biodiversity protection has remained a constant in their State policy despite its resource constraints and high population density. The Foreign Minister was speaking at a policy dialogue on ‘Equity and Co-management of Baikka Beel Permanent Wetland Sanctuary’ facilitated by International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCD). FM in Kenya to attend 2nd UN-HABITAT Assembly being held in Nairobi The Foreign Minister said USAID funded Protibesh programme has been critical in promoting community-based management of the Baikka Beel, with support from the concerned government entities. It appears that there are some procedural issues concerning Baikka Beel’s management, which perhaps need to be placed in the right context, he said. "Be that as it may, the preservation and management experience with Baikka Beel is certainly an educational one for other ecologically critical areas in the country." Momen said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had enacted the Wildlife Preservation Order as early as in 1973. Bangladesh an important political, trade, economic partner in South Asia: Belarusian FM Following his lead, he said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government inserted Article 18A in our Constitution, which stipulates, “The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to preserve and safeguard natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wild life for the present and future citizens.” The Foreign Minister said they cannot achieve their goals in a month or a year, but through their sustained and focused efforts, they can indeed reach their desired objectives. "Bangladesh, as a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, remains committed to the conservation of our designated wetlands," he said. Two Ramsar sites, the Sundarbans and Tanguar Haor, have emerged as popular tourist destinations with growing public awareness about respecting their ecological fragilities. Hakaluki Haor, a biodiversity hotspot, awaits declaration as our third Ramsar site. "There should perhaps be similar consideration and initiatives with Baikka Beel in the broader context of the Hail Haor," he said. Momen said they need to approach the issue of preserving these wetlands from the long-term perspective of Prime Minister’s legacy of the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100. Peace, tolerance keys to stability, security, Momen tells OIC CFM Speaking of wetlands, Baikka Beel permanent wetland sanctuary serves as a critical habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including several endangered species, in the larger Sylhet region, he said. "However, I understand that the existing infrastructure in Baikka Beel is inadequate to support a secure and sustainable nature tourism venture," Momen said. "It is essential that we invest in improving the infrastructure and developing facilities that cater to the needs of eco-conscious tourists," he mentioned. Simultaneously, Momen said, they must enhance the capacity of the local management bodies by formulating a long-term strategy, creating promotional materials, and providing training to eco-tour guides. He underlined the government’s unequivocal commitment to promoting nature-based solutions for preserving ecologically critical and protected areas. "As we strive to preserve the biodiversity of Baikka Beel, let us remember our responsibility to our future generations and thus unite in our efforts to forge a path towards a sustainable future for this invaluable wetland sanctuary," he said.  

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has urged the international community, including the British-Bangladeshi Diaspora to raise their voices in ensuring the voluntary, safe and sustainable repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh, to their homeland in Myanmar at an early date. He made the call when Nasim Ali OBE, Mayor of Camden of the UK , met the Foreign Minister on Tuesday afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Minister briefed the Mayor on the remarkable socio-economic progress of Bangladesh under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Also Read: Momen to attend OIC CFM in Mauritania, UN Water Conference in US Lauding the British-Bangladeshi Diaspora in the UK, both recalled their contributions into British society and economy and for being a vibrant and enterprising living bridge between our two countries over the past five decades. The Camden’s Mayor suggested for an appropriate event to recognize the high achievers of the British-Bangladesh Diaspora, particularly the elected representatives. They also discussed Bangladesh-UK cooperation on climate change.  

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said Bangladesh wants to be the manufacturing hub of the world and welcomes all to be a part of the smart Bangladesh. 'We invite you to join us in our development journey for mutual benefits," he told the global participants at Bangladesh Business Summit 2023 in Dhaka. Momen said Bangladesh Business Summit is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of the nation, and it showcases the immense potential and opportunities that Bangladesh has to offer to the world. "We have spirit, we have the Initiatives and we can do, sky is our limit. We are committed to move Bangladesh from “Digital Bangladesh” to  Smart Bangladesh," he said. To achieve the goal of Smart Bangladesh by 2041, Momen said they are creating smart labor force, smart students, smart productive capacity, smart infrastructure, smart government, smart rules and regulations and smart people. Also Read: Find ways to bring commodity prices to a normal level: PM tells business leaders "Let us continue to work together to unleash the full potential of Bangladesh and create a prosperous future for our people and the world," said the Foreign Minister. The apex trade body of the country, FBCCI, is arranging this summit on the 50th anniversary of its founding. The Bangladesh Business Summit is an excellent opportunity to showcase potential and to attract more foreign investment, Momen said. "Our country's strategic location, vibrant culture, young and resourceful people plus stable and business friendly government make us an attractive destination for investment," he said. "I repeat we have a young and educated workforce, a strong legal framework, and a government that is committed to creating an enabling environment for business to grow. Therefore, I welcome you all to invest and be a winner," Momen mentioned.  

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang expressed shock at the heavy casualties following an explosion in a commercial building in Dhaka. "I hereby extend my deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families," he said in a message to his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen. The Chinese Foreign Minister wished the injured victims a full and quick recovery.

Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Santiago Andrés Cafiero is scheduled to arrive here on a two-day visit on Monday morning to discuss trade and investment issues apart from a formal announcement over reopening of its Embassy in Dhaka. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will have a bilateral meeting with his Argentine counterpart at state guesthouse Jamuna on Monday evening. The meeting is likely to begin at 6pm. Momen will also host a dinner in honor of the Argentine Foreign Minister after the bilateral talks. The Argentine Embassy was previously shuttered in 1978 by the military junta that ruled over Argentina. Diplomatic operations, such as visas in order to travel, have since been handled by the Embassy in neighbouring India. Argentina says it is convenient to reopen the Embassy in accordance with foreign policy guidelines based on “political, strategic and commercial” reasons. Bilateral trade between the two countries stood around US$900 million last year, with a large trade surplus for Argentina, according to data available. Also read: Make more noises to make sure Rohingyas voices are heard: Gambian FM Apart from an announcement of re-opening of the Argentine Embassy in Dhaka, the Argentine Foreign Minister is likely to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi. “There is also the possibility of signing visa exemption agreements on diplomatic and official passports, MoUs on cooperation in agriculture and diplomatic training academies of the two countries,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told reporters recently. Apart from this, the two countries are working on a memorandum of understanding on football related matters, she said. Apart from the import of soybean oil and wheat from Argentina, the two sides are likely to discuss Bangladesh's inclusion in South America's powerful economic alliance Mercosur. Mercosur, or the Southern Common Market, is an economic and political bloc originally comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The visiting team is likely to enjoy a friendly match between the two teams comprising Bangladesh's junior footballers as well as meeting with football officials. END/UNB/MK/FH

Bangladeshi FM Mehdi Hasan Parag beat Azerbaijani GM Azer Mirzoev in the sixth round match of the Paytakht Cup International Chess Festival, a category A tournament, held in the Iranian capital Tehran Tuesday. Parag played with white pieces to beat Azer. After the sixth-round matches, Bangladeshi IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman remained in the third spot with five other players, securing four and a half points. He settled for a draw with Indian IM Himal Gusain in the sixth-round match. Parag bagged four points from six encounters. Read more: Chess Olympiad: Bangladesh beat stronger Czech Republic in 3rd round

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday welcomed the proposed visit of a high-level delegation led by Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon on March 7-9, 2023 and expressed hope that his maiden visit would infuse vigor and vitality in the bilateral relations. Momen also welcomed the announcement of the Mexican government to open their Embassy in Dhaka by 2023 which will further consolidate ties between the two countries and will boost trade and commerce, investment, exchange of visits between the businessmen, high officials and people-to-people contacts. Federico Salas Lofte, non-resident Ambassador of Mexico, Alejandro Simancas Marin, non-resident Ambassador of Cuba, Sinisa Pavic, non-resident Ambassador of Serbia  and Menzie Sipho DLAMINI, non-resident High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Eswatini jointly met Foreign Minister Momen at the Foreign Service Academy on Tuesday following presentation of  their Letter of Credence to the President of Bangladesh at Bangabhaban.  At the outset, the Foreign Minister welcomed the non-resident Ambassadors to Bangladesh. Also Read: Mexico wants to share automobile manufacturing experience with Bangladesh, transfer technology At the joint calls on, Momen hoped that the bilateral relations among Bangladesh and the countries of accreditation would usher a new avenue during their tour of duty.  Non-resident Ambassadors cordially exchanged views on bilateral and multilateral cooperation of mutual interests, including trade and investment, infrastructure development, connectivity, COVID situation and Russia-Ukraine crisis that disrupted the supply chain of wheat, fuel and edible oil and discussed ways and means to address the issue to offset the crisis. Foreign Minister Momen fondly recalled about the great Cuban Leader Fidel Castro who once compared Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with the Himalayas. To mark the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of relations between Bangladesh and Cuba, the Cuban Ambassador handed over a congratulatory message to Momen from his Cuban counterpart. Regarding Rohingya issue, Foreign Minister Momen underlined that Bangladesh is currently hosting 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals who were forced to flee their ancestral land in the face of rape, violence and persecution. Also Read: Malaysian Home Minister’s visit in Feb: Bangladesh wants manpower recruitment at a reduced cost Bangladesh cannot afford to share its sovereign land any longer with its limited resource and land, he said. The Foreign Minister urged the support of the respective governments to play an active role for the early repatriation of these Rohingya people to their homeland in Myanmar with safety, security and dignity. Uncertainty and delay in their repatriation may attract them towards radicalism, trafficking, drugs smuggling and other cross border crimes which may threaten the security and stability of Bangladesh and Myanmar and beyond, he added.