United News of Bangladesh

Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Member of German Bundestag, Johann Saathoff has said Germany remains firmly committed to supporting Bangladesh and the international community in seeking durable solutions for the Rohingya. "The Rohingya people deserve the opportunity to return home voluntarily, safely, and with dignity — but lasting peace and stability in Myanmar are essential for that to happen. Until then, we will continue to stand by Bangladesh and all those working to support both refugees and host communities," he said. Saathoff visited Bangladesh from October 27–28 to deepen bilateral relations and uphold and demonstrate Germany’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh in its development and humanitarian priorities. Bangladesh, Pakistan pledge stronger ties to boost mutual progress During his visit, Saathoff met senior government representatives, including Secretary of the Economic Relations Division under Ministry of Finance, Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, as well as representatives from the United Nations, international partners, and civil society. Discussions focused on shared priorities in sustainable development, economic growth, and the humanitarian situation in Cox’s Bazar. Together with German Ambassador Dr. Rüdiger Lotz and a delegation from BMZ, Saathoff travelled to Cox’s Bazar to meet with representatives of Unicef and local partners, and to observe ongoing efforts supporting the Rohingyas and host communities. The visit highlighted Germany’s continued solidarity with Bangladesh in addressing development and humanitarian challenges. Germany continues to be one of Bangladesh’s key partners in development cooperation, focusing on climate and energy, good governance and sustainable economic growth, said the German Embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday.    

Describing Germany as Bangladesh’s biggest trade partner in Europe, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday expressed optimism that newly appointed German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Rüdiger Lotz would work to boost trade and investment. The German Ambassador paid a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna and discussed issues of mutual interest. The Chief Adviser extended his warmest greetings to the German Ambassador on assuming his duties in Bangladesh and expressed the hope that the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Germany would reach a new height during his stay here. During the meeting, the Ambassador showed support for the interim government and enquired about the preparations for the national election in February 2026. He said that it was encouraging to see that people in Bangladesh were becoming more engaged in the democratic process, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Partnership with Bangladesh can deepen as strategic alignment: Saudi Minister The German Ambassador also praised the government’s reform efforts, especially the July National Charter. “It’s good to see political parties sitting down together and having conversations. The country should continue these reform initiatives after the election.”  The Chief Adviser said the National Consensus Commission did an excellent job by bringing major political parties together to sign the Charter. “It was a historic moment that showed unity and a shared commitment to change. It also helps build trust before the upcoming election. The government is doing everything possible to ensure the February election is peaceful and joyful,” he said.  The Ambassador also spoke about the rising number of Bangladeshi students who want to study in Germany. Bangladesh a key partner in Bay of Bengal, wider Indo-Pacific: EU The Chief Adviser and the Ambassador both welcomed the growing connections between the people of the two countries. They also discussed the situation of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and Germany’s support in this area. Prof Yunus also spoke about the power of young people. “Thanks to technology and social media, today’s youth can speak up, connect with others easily, and spot injustice,” he said. He, however, also warned about the dangers of false information. “Disinformation is one of the biggest challenges we face before the election.” 

Germany has made its highest-ever contribution to tackling climate change and supporting vulnerable countries like Bangladesh, according to the latest figures reported to the European Commission for 2024. Germany’s total contributions last year reached EUR 11.8 billion (USD 13.86 billion), marking a new record in financing global climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Of the total amount, EUR 6.1 billion came directly from the federal budget, with nearly EUR 1.5 billion allocated for conserving natural ecosystems such as forests, peatlands, and oceans. Alongside renewable energy and other climate technologies, these conservation efforts form a vital part of global climate action. For the first time, Germany also mobilised more than EUR 1 billion in private sector funding for climate investment, a milestone in broadening financial participation in environmental initiatives. Bangladesh, identified as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, has already begun benefiting from this support and remains eligible for further assistance in the future. Germany’s Minister for the Environment and Climate Action Carsten Schneider reaffirmed his country’s commitment to international cooperation. More words than action, Salehuddin slams weak global support for climate funds “Germany maintains its spirit of solidarity and stands by its commitments to international cooperation. That is an essential basis for successful negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém,” Schneider said. “Climate action can only succeed if countries can be trusted to keep their promises. We are seeing encouraging figures in the mobilisation of private investment. Electricity from wind and solar power is becoming cheaper and therefore needs less support from the public purse. This means that in future we can direct more of our limited public funds towards climate change adaptation. We will be discussing that issue in Belém as well,” he added.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said Germany has always been a dependable partner in Bangladesh’s development journey. The chief adviser underscored Germany’s vital role as Bangladesh’s largest trading partner in Europe and acknowledged its continued development assistance. He made the remarks when Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Bangladesh Achim Troster paid a farewell call on him at the State Guest House Jamuna, marking the end of his four-year diplomatic tenure in Dhaka. During the meeting, the chief adviser warmly congratulated Ambassador Troster on the successful completion of his assignment and expressed appreciation for his efforts in strengthening Bangladesh-Germany relations. Ambassador Tröster reflected on his time in Bangladesh with deep affection. “I’ve had many interesting postings in my career, but Bangladesh truly stands out,” he said. “The hospitality of the Bangladeshi people has been overwhelming, and I leave with immense gratitude and respect.” “The Investment Summit was a good effort. I wish Bangladesh all the best, and I wish the interim government’s reform process every success. I also hope a fair and free election will be held,” Chief Adviser’s press wing quoted the Ambassador as saying. Bangladesh, South Korea eye stronger infrastructure ties Prof Yunus also expressed particular appreciation for Germany’s humanitarian support for the Rohingya population. “We’re grateful for your country’s unwavering support in critical areas, especially to Rohingya refugee aid,” he said. As the meeting concluded, the Chief Adviser remarked, “Even after your departure, we hope to hear from you, be it positive or critical, because your insights matter to us. We consider you a true friend of Bangladesh.” SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed and Director General of the West Europe & EU at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with Md Mosharaf Hossain were also present during the meeting.

Germany’s economy, the largest in Europe, recorded a 0.4% growth in the first quarter of the year, driven by stronger-than-expected performance in exports and manufacturing, according to official data released on Friday. This marks a doubling of the initial estimate. The Federal Statistical Office had previously stated at the end of last month that the economy grew by 0.2% in the January to March period compared to the previous quarter. Ruth Brandt, the head of the office, attributed the upward revision to “the surprisingly good economic development seen in March.”  UK inflation hits highest level in over a year as domestic bills spike The last time Germany experienced higher growth was in the third quarter of 2022, when GDP rose by 0.6%. The country has faced persistent challenges in achieving strong economic growth, with the economy contracting in each of the past two years. In the final quarter of last year, GDP declined by 0.2%. In its initial projection since the new government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz assumed office earlier this month, the government’s panel of independent economic advisers forecast on Wednesday that GDP will stagnate in the current year and rise by 1% in 2026. The panel cited challenges from tariffs and trade threats imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump but also highlighted the potential benefits from a significant infrastructure investment initiative introduced by Merz’s coalition. Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING bank, noted that the improved performance in the first quarter is likely “a positive one-off” in the short term, driven by companies rushing to act before Trump's tariffs take effect.  German police arrest a suspect, injured 5 people outside bar attack “Due to the announced tariffs and in anticipation of ‘Liberation Day,’ German industrial production and exports surged in March,” Brzeski wrote in a research note.  

Germany on Thursday said it views Bangladesh as a "strategic partner" in trade, investment, and sustainable development. "All participants were deeply impressed by the business opportunities in various manufacturing sectors beyond the textile industry," said Executive Board Member of OAV-German Asia-Pacific Business Delegation Almut Roessner as the German business stakeholder delegation concluded a five-day visit to Bangladesh. With total bilateral trade valued at USD 9.81 billion in 2024, this visit reaffirmed Germany’s "confidence in Bangladesh’s economic potential" and its commitment to building resilient and future-oriented partnerships, he said. For Bangladeshi firms expanding their production to meet growing local and international demand, Roessner said German suppliers of specialised machinery and automation technology are highly attractive partners. German parties reach a deal to form new government "Our multiple discussions with representatives of the interim government left us with the clear impression of a strong commitment to establishing a lasting reform agenda aimed at attracting more diverse investment to the country." The delegation participated in the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 and engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in Dhaka and Chattogram. The delegation included representatives from the German Federal Government, German business associations, and leading German enterprises. Over the course of the visit, delegates met with senior government representatives, attended sectoral discussions at the Bangladesh Investment Summit. They visited key industrial sites such as the German-Bangladeshi Joint Venture Hana System Ltd. in Gazipur, the WALTON Group, and logistics and ship recycling operations in Chattogram. Site visits also included German-affiliated factories and infrastructure projects, offering a first-hand look at Bangladesh’s evolving investment landscape, according to the Embassy of Germany in Dhaka. Germany sees promising efforts to further improve business environment in Bangladesh The delegation was organised in cooperation with OAV – the German Asia-Pacific Business Association, which supports bilateral business cooperation and strengthens Germany’s presence in emerging markets across Asia.

Conservative and centre-left parties reached a deal to form a new German government on Wednesday after weeks of negotiations. The agreement paves the way for new leadership in Europe’s biggest economy after months of political drift. Friedrich Merz, the leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union, is expected to become Germany’s next leader under the agreement, replacing outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The parties involved sent an invitation to a news conference on the coalition deal at 3pm. (1300 GMT). Merz’s two-party Union bloc emerged as the strongest force from Germany’s election on February 23. Merz turned to the Social Democrats, Scholz’s center-left party, to put together a coalition with a parliamentary majority. It’s still going to be a little while before parliament can elect Merz as chancellor, perhaps in early May. Before that can happen, the coalition deal will need approval in a ballot of the Social Democrats’ membership and by a convention of Merz’s CDU. Details of the agreement weren’t immediately available. But already last month, the two sides pushed plans through parliament to enable higher defense spending by loosening strict rules on incurring debt and to set up a huge infrastructure fund that’s aimed at boosting the stagnant economy. That was an about-turn for Merz, whose party had spoken out against running up new debt before the election without entirely closing the door to future changes to Germany's self-imposed “debt brake.” Iran’s president pledges no nuclear bomb, invites U.S. investment talks The election took place seven months earlier than planned after Scholz’s unpopular coalition collapsed in November, three years into a term that was increasingly marred by infighting and widespread discontent. The market turbulence caused by US President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs added to pressure for Merz’s Union and the Social Democrats to bring their coalition talks to a conclusion. So have polls showing support for the Union slipping from its election showing and that of the far-right Alternative for Germany, which finished a strong second in February, gaining as the political vacuum persisted. The prospective new coalition brings together what have been post-World War II Germany’s traditional big parties, but the Union’s election-winning performance in February was lackluster and the Social Democrats dropped to their worst postwar showing in a national parliamentary election. Together, they have 328 seats in the 630-member lower house of parliament, the Bundestag.

A company that specializes in early wildfire detection has developed a new, AI-based drone it says will help speed up the detection, location and monitoring of fires. The Silvaguard drone by Dryard Networks was presented Thursday in Eberswalde outside of Berlin as wildfires driven by extreme heat and climate change are becoming a more common, often deadly phenomenon around the globe. The drone will deliver infrared images, among other things, and works in combination with a fire detection system that the company developed earlier and that's already being used in several countries. The fire detection system, called Silvanet, is designed to detect wildfires at the smoldering stage using solar-powered gas sensors connected via a wireless network. Each gas sensor can protect an area the size of a football field and be attached to a tree. The plan is that once Silvanet detects a fire, it will trigger a nearby Silvaguard drone to fly to the location and provide detailed images. ChatGPT’s viral Ghibli-Style images raise AI copyright concerns “Today we saw a combination of Silvanet — the solar powered gas sensors that detected the fire within minutes — with Silvaguard, the first prototype of an autonomous, an AI enabled drone that we dispatched in response to a fire," said Carsten Brinkschulte, the CEO and co-founder, Dryad Networks. The drone “flew autonomously to the location of the sensor, detecting the fire, and delivered overhead infrared and optical video from the point of fire,” he said of the newly developed drone. The company is still waiting to get the go-ahead for the commercial use of Silvaguard drone from authorities. The information about the fire, including geographic coordinates, video and infrared images, will then be sent to the firefighters who will then know where the fire is spreading and how big it is, which will help them know how many firefighters need to be deployed. “When it comes to wildfires, time is of the essence, you cannot be fast enough," Brinkschulte said.

Seeking German help to implement the reform agenda of his interim government, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said the government is likely to hold the elections by the end of this year. "We need all your support for the New Bangladesh. We are working hard to make the general election a big success," he said. Bangladesh wants a special relationship with Germany in an effort to deepen trade and investment ties with Europe's largest economy, said Dr Yunus. The Chief Adviser made the comments when Zarah Bruhn, a Commissioner of the German government, met him at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Wednesday. During the talks, the Chief Adviser praised the German people and the German economy, saying the country has been the leader in many areas, including heavy industries, in the world. "We have close relations with Germany. But we want to have a different relationship -- a special relationship-- with Germany," he said. Dr Yunus urges Maldives to regularise undocumented Bangladeshi expats Zarah Bruhn, who is visiting Bangladesh to learn more about social businesses and micro credit, lauded the leadership of Professor Yunus, saying Bangladesh would prosper during his tenure. "I am a big enthusiast of your work," she said, adding that she was keen to launch social businesses in Germany. They also discussed the three zero movement launched by Professor Yunus, social businesses, poverty reduction measures, and the future of the welfare state. Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary and the head of the SDGs affairs of the Bangladesh government, also attended the meeting.

Germany's outgoing government on Wednesday extended by six months the border checks it imposed on all its frontiers last fall as it attempts to cut the number of migrants arriving in the country, an issue that has become a top issue in the campaign for the Feb. 23 election. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his government notified the European Union's executive commission of the extension to Sept. 15. “With the border controls, we are pushing irregular migration down successfully. The figures prove this," he said. Germany turned back 47,000 people back at its borders, seeing one-third fewer asylum requests year-on-year and arresting 1,900 smugglers. The country was already controlling its borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland before it extended the checks last September to its remaining borders, with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. Ukraine ‘may be Russian someday’, says Trump The EU has a visa-free travel area known as Schengen that allows citizens of most member states to travel easily across borders for work and pleasure. Switzerland also belongs to Schengen although it is not an EU member. According to the EU, member states are allowed can temporarily reintroduce border controls in cases of a serious threat, like internal security. But it also says border controls should be applied as a last resort in exceptional situations, and must be limited in time. German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, the front-runner in the election, wants to go further than the current government. He has said that if he becomes chancellor, he would order the Interior Ministry on his first day in office to control all of Germany’s borders permanently and “turn back all attempts at illegal entry without exception.” He argued that EU rules are “recognizably dysfunctional” and Germany must exert a right to the primacy of national law. Scholz argues that Merz's proposal is incompatible with German and EU law and would lead to the EU’s most populous member undermining the bloc.