United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said Bangladesh will send a fresh ‘substantive’ letter to India reminding them of set mechanisms to deal with the push-ins, noting that push-in is still happening. "We will give them a fresh letter (diplomatic note) today or tomorrow. We give them a substantive letter," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question. Asked whether the letter would be in a soft language or kind of a protest note, Adviser Hossain said it depends on how it is viewed. He said Bangladesh is in touch with India on the issues of push-ins with regular exchanges. Adviser Hossain said communication with New Delhi continues and Dhaka is trying that nothing happens beyond the set mechanisms, mentioning that the Indian side has given Bangladesh a list and Dhaka has taken some of them after verification. Bangladesh’s position is that it will examine each case separately and will receive only if there is proof that they are Bangladeshi citizens. "We see it (push-in) is happening. It is not possible to face physically," he said. Hossain said there is a mechanism on consular issues and using the mechanism, Dhaka is trying to bring it under the set rules. Asked about updates on deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, the Adviser said there has been no feedback yet. Prof Yunus seeks global backing to tackle Rohingya aid crisis Seeking an accelerated verification process, India has said they have a large number of Bangladeshi nationals - around over 2000 - who are required to be deported after verification. Regarding Hasina’s extradition request, the Adviser also said they did not give the second letter yet but if required, it will be done. On border killings, he said Dhaka's strong protest continues through diplomatic channels. The adviser said Consular Dialogue between the two countries can take place as there are issues (like push-ins). Asked about the next national election, Hossain said the election issue comes when they hold routine meetings at home and abroad. "We mention the government's position that the election will be held between December this year and June next year," he said. "We have asked the Bangladeshi side to verify their nationality. We have a pending list of 2360.....upwards of 2360 cases of people who are required to be deported," said official Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal recently. During a regular briefing in New Delhi, he also said many of them have actually completed their jail sentences. "And in many cases, the nationality verification is required to be done. It is pending since 2020. So, almost five years have passed," said the MEA Spokesperson. Dhaka, Thimphu see ‘significant potential’ in hydropower trade: Foreign Adviser The Indian side urged the Bangladeshi side that they must expedite the verification process so that people who are required to be deported can be sent back to Bangladesh. "They must expedite this process," Spokesperson Jaiswal said. The MEA spokesperson said the people who are staying in India illegally or the foreigners who are staying in India illegally, whether they happen to be Bangladeshi national or any other national, will be dealt with as per law. Responding to a question on India's recent trade related measures, including cancellation of transhipment facilities, Adviser Hossain said they see positive things for the country as its dependence on India reduced. "Our dependence on them has reduced. Our exports are not being affected and a mechanism has been set up to be done from Sylhet instead of Delhi," he said. The Adviser observed that trade is going on and there is no problem. "I think it has been good in one way. Why do we have to transit from other countries for everything? Since there are direct flights from here," he added. India terminated the transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export cargo, saying the transshipment facility extended to Bangladesh had over a period of time resulted in significant congestion at their airports and ports. The facility was withdrawn from April 8, 2025. These measures do not impact Bangladesh exports to Nepal or Bhutan transiting through Indian territory.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said Bangladesh is in touch with India on the recent issues of push-ins and port-related restrictions on the import of certain goods, including readymade garments and processed food items, from Bangladesh. Responding to a question on the restrictions, Adviser Hossain said the Commerce Adviser of the interim government is looking into it. The Indian government said such port restrictions will not apply to Bangladesh goods transiting through India but destined for Nepal and Bhutan. The import of all kinds of RMG from Bangladesh is not allowed from any land port. However, it is allowed only through Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports. No issue of Foreign Secretary’s removal; responsibilities to be changed: Adviser Hossain Regarding reported push-ins, Adviser Hossain said communication with New Delhi continues and Dhaka is trying that nothing happens beyond the set mechanisms. “They (India) have conveyed their position to some extent and we explained our position. We are trying to make them understand that this is not right,” he said, referring to a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The Adviser said the Indian side has given Bangladesh a list and Dhaka is verifying it through the Home Ministry. Bangladesh’s position is that it will examine each case separately and will receive only if there is proof that they are Bangladeshi citizens.

India on Saturday imposed port restrictions on the import of certain goods, including readymade garments (RMG) and processed food items, from Bangladesh with immediate effect. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India has issued a notification in this regard. Dhaka, Tokyo outline areas of cooperation ahead of Prof Yunus’ Japan visit These restrictions came after Bangladesh restricted Indian cotton via sea ports, closing land ports, a diplomatic source told UNB. But, the Indian government said such port restrictions will not apply to Bangladesh goods transiting through India but destined for Nepal and Bhutan. The import of all kinds of RMG from Bangladesh shall not be allowed from any land port. However, it is allowed only through Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports, the notification reads. The import of fruit/ fruit flavoured and carbonated drinks; processed food items; cotton and cotton yarn waste; plastic and PVC finished goods, except pigments, dyes, plasticisers and granules that form input for own industries; and wooden furniture, shall not be allowed through any Land Customs Stations (LCSs)/ Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram; and LCS Changrabandha and Fulbari in West Bengal. The port restrictions do not apply to the import of fish, LPG, edible oil and crushed stone from Bangladesh. Malaysia reaffirns support to Bangladesh govt in its reform agenda A good amount of Bangladeshi exports to India is ready-made garments. Now they have to essentially go to only two Indian ports - Kolkata and Mumbai via Chattogram and this adds to the cost. Last month, the then National Board of Revenue (NBR) suspended the import of yarn from India through land ports. It said the import of yarn through the Benapole, Bhomra, Sonamasjid, Banglabandha and Burimari land ports will no longer be permitted. These ports were the primary entry points for yarn imports from India. Earlier in February this year, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), an organisation representing textile industry owners, demanded the suspension of yarn imports from India via land ports.

India on Tuesday expressed concerns over the ban imposed by the interim government on the activities of Bangladesh Awami League. "The ban on the Awami League without due process is a concerning development," said Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal during a regular media briefing in New Delhi. Bangladesh urges India to take measures to stop push-ins As a democracy, he said, India is naturally concerned at the "curtailment of democratic freedoms and shrinking political space." "We strongly support the early holding of free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh," said the MEA spokesperson. The government has issued a gazette notification banning all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated organisations under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) completes the trial of the party’s leaders and activists.

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly pushed 80 Indian nationals into Bangladesh on Wednesday, labelling them as Bangladeshis. According to BGB sources, BSF pushed 27 people into Bangladesh through the Shantipur border and another 23 through Achalong Para of Taindong Union. Besides, 30 people were pushed in through the Ruposhi Para border of Panchhari Upazila. Khagrachhari's acting Deputy Commissioner Nazmun Ara Sultana said 80 Indian nationals, including women and children, have crossed the border through the Matiranga and Panchhari upazilas as of the latest reports. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman said any push-ins should be done in a formal channel and Bangladesh's position is to welcome only its citizens with sufficient proof. "This needs to be done in a formal channel," he said when a journalist wanted to know his comments referring to media reports.  Talking to correspondents, locals said the people who were pushed in are residents of Gujarat state in India, and Muslims. They are reportedly able to speak both Gujarati and Bengali. It was learned that they were brought from Gujarat to Tripura state by two separate flights. Later, they were pushed into Bangladesh by BSF members.  Bangladesh urges calm as tensions rise between India and Pakistan The illegal entry is believed to have occurred via remote forest routes along the Raisyabari and Natun Bazar border areas of Udaipur district in Tripura during the early hours of Wednesday. Those detained said that members of the 114 BSF Elkepara Camp escorted them across the Shantipur border. Before crossing, they were blindfolded and forced to walk for nearly an hour inside Bangladeshi territory, they alleged. Sources from BGB Battalion-3 in Panchhari said security has been reinforced along the border. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel are maintaining constant intelligence surveillance and working to keep the law-and-order situation under control. However, no official statement has yet been issued by the BGB. The upazila administrations are handling their food and security needs and the authorities remain vigilant, the acting DC added.

India has received "strong expressions of support and solidarity" from many governments around the world, including Bangladesh, which have unequivocally condemned the recent terror attack. The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on Wednesday evening under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and recorded its appreciation for such sentiments, which reflect zero tolerance for terrorism. The CCS was briefed in detail on the terrorist attack on 22 April 2025 in Pahalgam, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed. A number of others sustained injuries. The CCS condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the early recovery of the injured. Prof Yunus seeks greater Qatari investment, offers exclusive economic zone Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh separately strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in India, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives. “Bangladesh extends deepest condolence to the families of the victims and expresses heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by the mindless act of violence," said the MoFA on Wednesday. Bangladesh reiterated its "unwavering commitment" to the global fight against terrorism. In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development, said Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in a statement on the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack, he said, the CCS decided upon the following measures: (i) The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. (ii) The Integrated Check Post Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 01 May 2025. (iii) Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India. (iv) The Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions. (v) The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by 01 May 2025. The CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil, said the Indian Foreign Secretary. It resolved that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account, he said. "As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror, or conspired to make them possible," Misri said.

Four Bangladeshi trucks carrying goods were sent back from Benapole Port on Wednesday evening as India revoked the long-standing transshipment facility granted to Bangladesh, which allowed goods to be exported from Bangladesh to third countries via Indian land ports. Rashedul Sajib Nazir, Deputy Director of Benapole Port, said that the Indian government’s cancellation of the transshipment facility led to the Petrapole Customs refusing clearance for third-country goods. “The trucks carrying these goods could not enter India.” He, however, mentioned that the export trade for goods intended for the Indian market is still operating normally. Kartik Chakraborty, General Secretary of the Petrapole Clearing and Forwarding Agents' Staff Welfare Association, said that India’s Ministry of Finance had issued a letter regarding the cancellation of the transshipment facility. India stops transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export cargo Based on this letter, the entry of goods meant for third countries via Benapole into Petrapole Port was halted. Earlier, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India has withdrawn the transshipment facility for Bangladesh. "The transshipment facility extended to Bangladesh had over a period of time resulted in significant congestion at our airports and ports,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Chief Adviser’s High Representative Khalilur Rahman on Tuesday said Bangladesh has formally urged India not to allow former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to use its territory as a platform for making anti-state or anti-government remarks. He made the statement while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, following recent bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit between Dr Yunus and Indian PM Narendra Modi, held on April 4 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok. He mentioned that during the meeting, they placed a request regarding Hasina’s extradition and both sides will work on it, Khalilur said, adding, “Prime Minister Modi clearly stated that India’s relationship with Bangladesh is not based on any individual or political party, but on state-to-state ties. We agree with that and wish to strengthen bilateral relations on that basis.” “We have our own Gaza, but no protest,” says Khalilur  Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir were also present at the event. Minority repression ‘hurts national progress’ Addressing a separate issue, Khalilur said that suppression of minority communities only harms a country’s development. He blamed the legacy of British colonial rule for sowing communal divisions that still persist in the subcontinent. “Whenever we hold discussions with India, they bring up the issue of minority repression in Bangladesh. It is unfortunate that although the British are gone, the problems they created still persist. Dividing communities was a colonial tactic, and both our nations continue to suffer from it,” he said. He warned that excluding minorities from the mainstream weakens a nation’s overall capacity. “When people cannot participate in national life, the country loses out,” he noted. Khalilur also addressed the political violence that followed the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. “We acknowledge that in the five to seven days following August 5, there was effectively no functioning government. During that period, many incidents took place. Unfortunately, members and supporters of the fallen party, regardless of their religion, faced various forms of violence. This is deeply regrettable. No one should take the law into their own hands,” he said. Water treaty negotiations ongoing Khalilur mentioned that discussions are ongoing with India to renew the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which expires in 2026. Rohingya repatriation hinges on Arakan stability: Khalilur Rahman “Both countries are maintaining communication to ensure a smooth negotiation process. We believe India will extend constructive cooperation,” he said. He also raised concerns over the Teesta River, pointing out that 14 per cent of Bangladesh’s population lives in the Teesta basin. He noted that their livelihoods, the region’s ecology, and future are all dependent on the availability of water. Without water, the area becomes uninhabitable, he said. Khalilur emphasised that ensuring a minimum flow of water in the Teesta basin is a top priority for the government, adding that they cannot allow such a large portion of population to live in a precarious condition. “That is why we said India to sign a water-sharing agreement while also exploring alternative solutions,” he added.

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Friday enquired about the status of Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina which remains pending with the Indian government. Dr Yunus discussed the issue during the much-talked-about bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit. He noted that the former Prime Minister had been making inflammatory remarks in various media outlets and attempting to destabilise the situation in Bangladesh, which seemed to be an abuse of the hospitality India has extended to her. "She has consistently made false and inflammatory accusations against the interim government of Bangladesh," Prof Yunus stated. "We request that the Government of India take appropriate measures to restrain her from continuing to make such incendiary statements while she remains in your country," said the Chief Adviser. Addressing the challenges facing the relationship between the two countries, Prof Yunus said, "Excellency, we seek to work together with you to set the relationship on the right track for the benefit of both our peoples." Dr Yunus called for discussions to renew the Ganges Water Treaty and conclude the Teesta Water Sharing Agreement. Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting. "All issues of mutual interests were discussed. The meeting was very constructive, productive and fruitful," Alam said about the 40-minute exchange between the two leaders. The bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit is viewed as the most significant development in Dhaka-Delhi relations since the July Uprising in Bangladesh. This was the first-ever in-person meeting between the two South Asian leaders since the formation of Bangladesh's interim government last August 8, following the fall of the previous government three days earlier. Chief Adviser Dr Yunus presented a photograph to Prime Minister Modi during their bilateral meeting. The photo is about Prime Minister Narendra Modi presenting a gold medal to Dr Yunus at the 102nd Indian Science Congress that took place in Mumbai on January 3, 2015. Prof Yunus also referenced the OHCHR’s Fact-Finding Report, which confirmed serious human rights violations and abuses committed by security forces and armed Awami League activists between July 15 and August 5, 2024.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said their North-Eastern region, in particular, is emerging as a connectivity hub for the BIMSTEC, with a myriad network of roads, railways, waterways, grids and pipelines. “We, after all, have the longest coastline in the Bay of Bengal, of almost 6500km. India shares borders not only with five BIMSTEC members, connects most of them, but also provides much of the interface between the Indian Sub-continent and ASEAN,” he said, adding that India is aware of its special responsibility in regard to BIMSTEC. Speaking at the 20th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting, Jaishankar said they believe that cooperation is an integrated outlook, not one subject to cherry picking. The EAM said the completion of the “trilateral highway” will connect India’s North East all the way to the Pacific Ocean, a veritable game-changer. He said they are conscious that their cooperation and facilitation are an essential pre-requisite for the smooth flow of goods, services and people in this larger geography. Keeping this geo-strategic factor in mind, Jaishankar said they have devoted increasing energies and attention to the strengthening of BIMSTEC in the last decade. He said this regional organisation represents the trifecta of three of our crucial initiatives: the Act East policy, the Neighbourhood First approach and the MAHA-SAGAR outlook. Society collapses due to wealth, power concentration: Dr Yunus “It is also on the pathway to our Indo-Pacific commitment. In order to promote BIMSTEC, what India is doing is to draw the best from all of them and then synergize that with our collective efforts,” said the Indian Minister, adding that their bilateral relationships with individual BIMSTEC members are also strong and steadily growing is a further source of strength. “At the end of the day, what we seek to create is a strong structural framework with a substantial relevance to our people,” he said, adding that by having a real commitment towards enhancing the growth of BIMSTEC. By finalising a BIMSTEC Charter in 2024 and holding four Summits in the last decade, Jaishankar said, they are sending a strong message to that effect. Dr Yunus arrives in Bangkok ahead of BIMSTEC Summit “Our job is to prepare for a successful Summit tomorrow where our leaders will reinforce the pillars of cooperation, witness the signing of significant agreements and declare the establishment of Centres of Excellence,” said the EAM. “I am confident that we will not only accomplish the ground work properly but set the stage for the emergence of the Bay of Bengal as a vibrant and energetic region,” Jaishankar said, noting that the nations around and proximate to the Bay of Bengal have both common interests and shared concerns.