United News of Bangladesh

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Tuesday said Bangladesh and China are 'comprehensive strategic cooperative partners’ and his country will continue to implement more projects that benefit people and enhance the well-being of both nations. He emphasised that Bangladesh and China are a community with a shared future. "Eid al-Fitr is a time for gratitude and sharing blessings. Through this donation, China aims to convey warmth and support residents in celebrating a peaceful festival," he said at a Eid al-Fitr food packages donation ceremony in Dhaka. Bangladesh, China seek to deepen cultural cooperation, strengthen diplomatic ties The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh donated the Eid al-Fitr food packages . Dr. Shafiqul Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, also attended the donation ceremony, with over 1,000 local residents participating. Ameer Dr. Shafiqul expressed gratitude for the generous donation, noting that the food packages reflect China’s sincere friendship toward the people of Bangladesh, said the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka. He highlighted the importance Jamaat-e-Islami places on friendly relations with China and expressed willingness to deepen inter-party exchanges, promote more grassroots-level cooperation, and jointly enhance the welfare of the people. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in a message on Tuesday night said they noted with concern some social media’s contents about the charity event attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh were not in consistence with the fact. "We would like to reiterate China’s friendly policy towards Bangladesh and stress that we support the smooth governance by the elected government," said the Embassy. The Chinese side said they will continue to work together with the Bangladesh government to promote their friendship so as to bring more benefits to the people of the two countries.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong will pay an official visit to Bangladesh on April 2-3 and will lead the Chinese delegation to the 14th Bangladesh-China Diplomatic Consultations. Vice Foreign Minister Weidong is also expected to meet high level dignitaries during the visit, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Thursday and discussed issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir was present during the meeting. The Chinese envoy briefed the Foreign Minister on the forthcoming visit of the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong to Bangladesh. The Consultations are expected to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and China and explore new avenues for enhanced cooperation in areas of mutual interest.  Acknowledging China’s longstanding support and contribution to Bangladesh’s development journey, Foreign Minister Rahman expressed hope that the visit would inject new momentum into Bangladesh-China bilateral relations following the formation of the new Government.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s Minister for Cultural Affairs Nitai Roy Chowdhury and State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, where the two sides discussed ways to enhance cultural cooperation and strengthen diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh. During the meeting, they held in-depth discussions on expanding cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Yao congratulated Minister Nitai and State Minister Khyom on assuming their new posts. He noted that both China and Bangladesh are ancient civilizations with a profound and long-standing friendship and close cultural ties, which have effectively promoted mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples. China is ready to continue deepening practical cooperation in the cultural field with Bangladesh, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and provide stronger people-to-people support for the China-Bangladesh Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. The Bangladesh side extended its appreciation to Ambassador Yao for his congratulations and thanked China for its long-standing support for Bangladesh's cultural development. They expressed their willingness to work hand in hand with China to further promote cultural exchanges and industrial cooperation, injecting new vitality into the long-standing friendship between the two countries.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday called on Chinese investors to increase their presence in Bangladesh, highlighting the role of security and stability in attracting foreign capital. The request came during a meeting with China’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Minister Salahuddin described China as a major development partner and urged expansion of existing investments, citing Bangladesh’s strategic location and long-standing bilateral ties. Chinese envoy meets PM Tarique, reaffirms China’s support Ambassador Yao said Bangladesh’s politically stable government creates a favourable environment for investment. He said roughly 10,000 Chinese nationals are currently working across sectors in the country and emphasised that development and security are interlinked, urging enhanced law enforcement and public safety measures. Joining the ‘International Alliance Combating Telecom and Cyber Fraud’, an initiative by China’s Ministry of Public Security, by Bangladesh also came up at the meeting for discussions. India, China invite Bangladesh FM to pay official visits Minister Salahuddin instructed officials to review the expired 2023 memorandum on law enforcement training cooperation and indicated plans to visit China later this year. Discussions spanned security, cybercrime prevention, police training, and business expansion, reflecting both countries’ aim to deepen economic and strategic ties.

Japan has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to pay an official visit at a mutually convenient time as Tokyo reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Dhaka. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Shinichi Saida, who met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, conveyed the invitation for the Prime Minister to visit Japan, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs; Humayun Kabir, Adviser to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Disaster Management and Relief, and Civil Aviation and Tourism; Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the Ministries of Education, Primary and Mass Education, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Labour and Employment; Dr Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment; and Asad Alam Siam, Foreign Secretary were, among others, present. During the meeting, Ambassador Saida congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on his assumption of office. The Ambassador said Japan will work with Bangladesh under the Strategic Partnership to further steadily deepen bilateral relations and collaborate to realise a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). They also exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including Japan’s development assistance, trade and investment, defence cooperation and other bilateral items. The two sides discussed cooperation under the Employment Skill Development Programme (ESDP), with particular focus on skills enhancement and Japanese language training for Bangladeshi workers aspiring to work in Japan. The Foreign Minister underscored the importance of improved access to information and proposed the development of a digital matchmaking platform to facilitate recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers by Japanese employers. Discussions were also held on defence procurement, metro rail cooperation and mutual support in international forums. Earlier in the day, the Japanese Ambassador paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam. Recalling Japan’s early recognition of Bangladesh, the State Minister reaffirmed her commitment to advancing Bangladesh-Japan relations and appreciated Japan’s continued support, including on the Rohingya issue.

Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday discussed ways to accelerate negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, infrastructure and Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. The issues were discussed when UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdulla Ali AlHmoudi paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and ‘growing strategic partnership’ between Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates. UAE-Bangladesh joint venture to invest $10m at BEPZA Economic Zone The Foreign Minister conveyed appreciation for the greetings from the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. He emphasised Bangladesh’s commitment, under the ‘Bangladesh First’ policy, to elevating bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic and economic partnership. The Foreign Minister appreciated the UAE for hosting around 1.2 million Bangladeshi expatriates and requested reopening of labour visas and facilitating greater mobility, including business and transit visas. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across sectors and enhancing people-to-people ties for mutual benefit. UAE rulers grant royal pardons to 440 Bangladeshi prisoners Earlier, the UAE Ambassador met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam. The State Minister stressed exchange of high-level visits and on holding regular meetings of existing bilateral platforms to identify opportunities and advance cooperation for mutual benefit.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has reaffirmed Bangladesh's unwavering support and commitment to revitalise SAARC process. The Minister expressed Bangladesh's readiness to take proactive initiatives to strengthen and revitalise SAARC. He made the remarks when Secretary General of SAARC Md. Golam Sarwar met him on Tuesday. Foreign Minister reiterated Bangladesh's conviction in abiding commitment to the principles enshrined in the SAARC Charter including sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual benefit of the peoples of member states. The Foreign Minister recalled that the idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first proposed by Bangladesh in the early 1980s by late President Ziaur Rahman to promote people's welfare, improve quality of life, and strengthen collective self- reliance in the region. Being one of the founder members and the host of the very first Summit of SAARC in December 1985 and twice in 1993 and 2005, Bangladesh acknowledges the valuable role of SAARC to foster common regional values and promote cooperation in key areas such as trade, investment, connectivity, climate change, food security, culture, people-to-people contacts and so forth, he said.

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet on Monday underlined that French companies want to develop their presence in Bangladesh and need a business-friendly environment in this context. He, together with the Heads of EU diplomatic missions, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and discussed issues of mutual interest. The Ambassador felicitated the Minister for his new assignment and expressed the commitment of France to deepening the long-standing partnership with Bangladesh and developing new common initiatives. France, Bangladesh share common vision for peace, multilateralism: French Ambassador The Minister thanked the EU for the concrete support it extended to Bangladesh through the electoral observation mission, which played an important role in the general elections. He emphasised the importance of EU-Bangladesh relations and the new government's desire to facilitate exchanges in all fields.

Seeking stronger cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Sunday held a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rehman, felicitating him on his recent appointment. Both leaders expressed a desire to further strengthen bilateral ties, with a shared vision of peace, stability, and prosperity, said the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. They also agreed to expand cooperation across diverse sectors and in multilateral fora, building a forward-looking partnership for the peoples of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan PM congratulates Tarique Rahman on election win, pledges closer ties

US President Donald J. Trump has congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on his assumption of office and expressed hope for stronger defence cooperation between the two countries. In his message to Tarique Rahman, President Trump said he expects the new Prime Minister to take decisive steps to complete the routine defence agreements that would enable Bangladesh’s military to access high-end American-made equipment, which he described as the best in the world. “I look forward to working with you to make the relationship between the United States and Bangladesh stronger than ever before,” he said in a letter to PM Tarique, shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. President Trump said the partnership between the two countries is based on mutual respect and a shared interest in fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific where strong, sovereign nations can prosper. “As you begin your term, I hope you will help me maintain the tremendous momentum in our trade relationship through the implementation of our Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, which benefits farmers and workers in both of our countries,” he said. President Trump said his Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent Christensen, has my full confidence. “Together, we have an opportunity to make both of our nations more prosperous and secure.” “Good luck to you in the days ahead,” he said, congratulating PM Tarique on his historic election and wishing him a successful term as Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.