United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh on Wednesday (12th November 2025) expressed displeasure over the interviews of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina published by Indian media outlets. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally conveyed Dhaka's displeasure to New Delhi through Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka Pawan Badhe, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB. Read more: Tensions rise as ICT going to set verdict date in Hasina case The Indian diplomat was asked to convey to New Delhi Bangladesh's request to stop Hasina's access to media, said a diplomatic source. The AFP, Reuters and the Independent (UK) also interviewed Hasina recently.

Bangladesh has underscored the prospects for increased Filipino investment in its emerging sectors and reiterated its aspiration to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Bangladesh and the Philippines held the third round of Foreign Policy Consultations (FPC) in Manila on Tuesday (4th November 2025), marking the first session after a six-year gap. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East & West) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, and Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Undersecretary for Policy at the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. Leo M. Herrera-Lim, Undersecretary for Migration Affairs, also joined the session. The Bangladesh delegation included Mohammad Sarwar Mahmood, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Philippines, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Bangladesh in Manila, along with a representative from Bangladesh Bank. BGCCI welcomes new German Ambassador; looks for boost in investment in tech, energy The Philippine delegation comprised senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture, Department of Migrant Workers, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Board of Investment, Anti-Money Laundering Council, and the Civil Aeronautics Board, joined by Nina P. Cainglet, Ambassador of the Philippines to Bangladesh. Both sides reviewed the progress since the second FPC and explored opportunities for deeper cooperation in political relations, trade and investment, cybersecurity, the blue economy, education, skills development, culture, defence cooperation through training exchanges and knowledge-sharing, people-to-people connectivity, labour and migration governance. They also discussed matters of mutual interest in regional and multilateral affairs, including the situation of the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs). VFS Global launches Netherlands visa services with state-of-the-art centre in Dhaka Discussions were held in a warm, constructive, and forward-looking atmosphere, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on Maritime Cooperation on the Recognition of Certificates under the STCW Convention, 1978 (as amended). Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East & West) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed on behalf of Bangladesh, while Sonia B. Malaluan, Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), signed on behalf of the Philippines. Following the FPC, Dr Md Nazrul Islam paid courtesy calls on Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Hans Leo J. Cacdac, Secretary for Migrant Workers, during which both sides focused on strengthening South–South cooperation for mutual benefit. He is also scheduled to visit a TESDA-operated caregiver training institute to explore future cooperation in skills development, training, and mutual recognition of certificates. Both sides expressed confidence that the outcomes of the consultation will further strengthen bilateral relations in the days ahead. Egyptian Ambassador meets Mirza Fakhrul

Bangladesh has called on India to take urgent measures to prevent any Bangladeshi nationals residing there from engaging in activities harmful to Bangladesh’s interests. The interim government also urged the Indian government not to permit or support any such activities in any manner and called for immedaite closure the political office(s) of the ‘banned’ Bangladesh Awami League on Indian soil, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. The ministry said the attention of the government of Bangladesh has been drawn to the reported establishment of offices of the ‘banned’ political party, Bangladesh Awami League, in the Indian capital of Delhi and Kolkata. This development comes against the backdrop of growing anti-Bangladesh activities undertaken by the leadership of the Bangladesh Awami League from being based on the Indian soil, Dhaka claimed. India bans jute goods import from Bangladesh via land routes Many of the senior leaders of the party, absconding in several criminal cases in Bangladesh on account of grievous crimes committed against humanity, remain in the Indian territory, said the interim government. Earlier, on 21 July 2025 evening, under the garb of an indescript NGO, some of the senior leaders of this ‘banned’ party planned to hold a public outreach at the Delhi Press Club and eventually distributed booklets among the attending members of the press. To date, the interim government said, several reports in Indian media affirm increasing overtures of the party while being on Indian soil. "Any form of political activity campaigning against the interests of Bangladesh by Bangladeshi nationals, particularly by the absconding leaders/activists of a banned political party, staying on Indian soil, legally or illegally, including the establishment of offices is an unambiguous affront against the people and State of Bangladesh," said the government in its statement. India's protection of 'order-giver' for murders hurting bilateral ties: CA's Press Secretary This development also risks upholding the good-neighbourly relations with India driven by mutual trust and mutual respect, and lends serious implications for the political transformation underway in Bangladesh, Dhaka said. "This may also trigger public sentiment in Bangladesh which may in turn impact the ongoing efforts of the two countries in further enhancing the relationship between the two closest neighbors," the statement said.

Though there had been "no written official instruction as such" from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin's portrait, Bangladesh Missions abroad are maintaining a "policy of zero" portrait for months, officials said on Sunday. "I can tell you, as such, there had been no written instructions from the headquarters. But you need to understand the signal," a senior diplomat stationed in a Bangladesh mission abroad told UNB wishing to remain unnamed. He said there are two aspects, following the changes in August 5, the portrait of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed. JU Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement leaders remove Bangabandhu's portrait from council room And then there were Zoom meetings with heads of Missions in the following months connected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said. "When we see no portrait at the Ministry, it gives a signal. So, the portrait of the President was removed several months back," said the diplomat, adding that he thinks most of the missions followed the same zero portrait policy months ago. Talking to UNB, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs simply said, “Yes”. When pressed for further details regarding any recent instructions in any way, he added, "As reported, verbally."  

The government has appointed Secretary Asad Alam Siam, who served as Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States, as the Foreign Secretary of the country, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Until further notice, Asad Alam Siam, Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will carry out the responsibilities of the Foreign Secretary,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an office order issued on Thursday which will come into effect on June 20. The new Foreign Secretary is likely to join office on Sunday, a senior official told UNB. In September last year, the government appointed Md Jashim Uddin as the 27th Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh. As assigned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique was carrying out the routine works of the Foreign Secretary since May 23 as the Foreign Secretary left his responsibilities. Secretary Siam joined the diplomatic service in 1995 and then Bangladesh Embassy in the USA in December 2024. A graduate in Architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Siam did his MBA from Maastricht School of Management, the Netherlands. He attended different professional courses at the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu; APCSS, Hawaii; IFANS, Seoul; National Defence College, Dhaka. He was a guest lecturer in different training institutions in Bangladesh. Prof Yunus’ London visit very successful: Acting Foreign Secretary In his long diplomatic career, Secretary Siam served as Director in the Offices of Foreign Minister, Foreign Secretary; Director General in Europe and EU wing; Chief of Protocol, Rector of the Foreign Service Academy and Inspector General of Missions in the Foreign Ministry. Overseas, he served in Bangladesh Missions in Bangkok, Jakarta and Manchester. He was Bangladesh's first Consul General in Milan, Italy; and Bangladesh's Ambassador to the Philippines, Palau, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia. Secretary Siam participated in various bilateral, regional and multilateral negotiations representing Bangladesh, and served as Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Vienna and to the OPEC Fund. Secretary Siam was also Bangladesh’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the UNESCAP in Bangkok. He served as Governor in the Board of Governors of IAEA, Vice Chair at the 67th Commission on Narcotic and Drugs in UNODC, in the Board of Governors of the Colombo Plan Staff College, Manila both as a Chair and a Governor.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday assigned Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique to carry out the routine works of the Foreign Secretary until further notice as the Foreign Secretary left his responsibilities. The office order will come into effect on May 23, a senior official at the ministry told UNB, referring to the changes. In September last year, the government appointed Md Jashim Uddin as the 27th Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh. A career diplomat, Jashim joined Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1994. Jashim, from the 13th batch of BCS (Foreign Affairs) Cadre, served extensively both at home and abroad. MoFA cancels Shabab’s transfer as deputy high commissioner in Kolkata, orders to return home Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said there is ‘no issue of removal’ regarding Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin but his responsibility will be changed as he desires to leave the current role. “Actually, there is no issue of removal. He (FS) wants to leave this responsibility for various reasons. He is in the service. The responsibility will change. He will leave his current responsibility within the next couple of days,” Adviser Hossain told reporters while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Asad Alam Siam is likely to be the next Foreign Secretary of the country. There will be an acting Foreign Secretary until the appointment of the new a Foreign Secretary. "There was a proposed list of three candidates," a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB on Tuesday, noting that Ambassador Siam is chosen as the senior most of the three candidates. If there is no further change in the government’s decision, Ambassador Siam will be the 28th Foreign Secretary of the country.

The government on Thursday cancelled its previous transfer order for Shabab Bin Ahmed, currently serving as Minister (local) at the Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands, and asked him to return to headquarters instead of joining as deputy high commissioner in its Kolkata Mission. He was supposed to assume the role of deputy high commissioner at Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commission in Kolkata by June. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the latest transfer order canceling previous order issued on November 21 last year, a senior official told UNB. MoFA's FB page hacking: All urged not to engage with posts

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said there is ‘no issue of removal’ regarding Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin but his responsibility will be changed as he desires to leave the current role. “Actually, there is no issue of removal. He (FS) wants to leave this responsibility for various reasons. He is in the service. The responsibility will change. He will leave his current responsibility within the next couple of days,” Adviser Hossain told reporters while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Asked about the appointment of the new Foreign Secretary, the Foreign Adviser said, “You will know this within the next couple of days.” In April, the government appointed Mohammad Sufiur Rahman, who served as the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Offices in Geneva and Ambassador of Bangladesh to Switzerland, as the special assistant to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. However, he is yet to join. Asked about the status of Sufiur, Adviser Hossain said, “He is yet to join. He will join or not when the government decides.”  He also said further discussion is underway on relevant issues.   Ambassador Siam Likely Next FS Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Asad Alam Siam is likely to be the next Foreign Secretary of the country. There will be an acting Foreign Secretary until appointment of the new FS. Committed to supporting  Bangladesh in building 'more equitable' society: Norway "There was a proposed list of three candidates," a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB on Tuesday, noting that Ambassador Siam is chosen as the senior most of the three candidates. If there is no further change in the decision of the government, Ambassador Siam will replace current Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Switzerland Tareq Md Ariful Islam was also there in the list of three proposed names. In September last year, the government appointed Jashim Uddin as the 27th Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh. A career diplomat, Jashim joined Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1994. Jashim, from the 13th batch of BCS (Foreign Affairs) Cadre, served extensively both at home and abroad. Ambassador Siam joined the diplomatic service in 1995. He joined the Bangladesh Embassy in the USA in December 2024. A graduate in Architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Ambassador Siam did his MBA from Maastricht School of Management, the Netherlands. Ambassador Siam attended different professional courses at SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu; APCSS, Hawaii; IFANS, Seoul; National Defence College, Dhaka. He was a guest lecturer in different training institutions in Bangladesh. Global confidence in Bangladesh growing, says Prof Yunus In his long diplomatic career, Ambassador Siam served as Director in the Offices of Foreign Minister, Foreign Secretary; Director General in Europe and EU wing; Chief of Protocol, Rector of the Foreign Service Academy and Inspector General of Missions in the Foreign Ministry. Overseas, he served in Bangladesh Missions in Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manchester. He was Bangladesh's first Consul General in Milan, Italy; and Bangladesh's Ambassador to the Philippines, Palau, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia. He participated in various bilateral, regional and multilateral negotiations representing Bangladesh. He served as Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Vienna and to the OPEC Fund. He was also Bangladesh’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the UNESCAP in Bangkok. He served as Governor in the Board of Governors of IAEA, Vice Chair at the 67th Commission on Narcotic and Drugs in UNODC, in the Board of Governors of the Colombo Plan Staff College, Manila both as a Chair and a Governor. There was a speculation that the Foreign Secretary would be replaced, but there is no official announcement yet.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi on Monday met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and discussed issues of mutual interest. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the afternoon. Bangladesh and Japan on Thursday outlined the future area of cooperation between the two countries and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’ upcoming visit to Japan as both sides eye to take the relationship to a new height.  Security Adviser Khalilur trashes BNP's foreign citizenship claim The two countries held the 6th Foreign Secretary-level consultations - Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Tokyo on May 15. In February this year, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina Akiko invited Chief Adviser Prof Yunus to visit Japan for the Nikkei 30th Future of Asia event to be held on May 29-30 in Tokyo. Prof Yunus is also a recipient of the Nikkei Asia Prize in 2004. The Chief Adviser will attend the Nikkei 30th Future of Asia event and both sides are working to arrange a bilateral meeting between Dr Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a diplomatic source told UNB. Under the new plan for Free and Open Indo Pacific and Big-B initiatives, Japan wants to see the sustainable development of the region. Japan said it would strengthen its engagement with Bangladesh under the Bay of Bengal Initiative (Big-B), as the country aims to support high-quality infrastructure development projects and encourage Japanese manufacturing and production companies to expand their industrial value chains to Bangladesh.  BD, China hold talks on bilateral ties, "common concern" Under the new plan for Free and Open Indo Pacific and Big-B initiatives, Japan wants to see the sustainable development of the region, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo.

In an effort to strengthen cultural diplomacy and international camaraderie, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to host the first-ever diplomatic badminton and table tennis tournament on Friday. The tournament will be held at the premises of International School Dhaka (ISD) located in Bashundhara residential area. Following the overwhelming success of previous diplomatic football and cricket tournaments organized in collaboration with Gameplay Limited, badminton and table tennis have been added for this new edition under the ministry’s diplomatic sports initiative. There will be arrangement for table tennis (Singles and Doubles) and badminton (Doubles only) for the participants. There will be an opening ceremony at 9.30am on Friday, closing ceremony and prize distribution will be held on May 17. 10th Shah Cement AKS Cup Golf Tournament begins A number of brands have joined this initiative to make it a success. This two-day sporting event will bring together over a hundred players representing embassies, high commissions, and international organisations based in the capital. The tournament aims to foster a spirit of healthy competition, cultural exchange, and interpersonal bonds among members of the diplomatic and international community in Bangladesh, said the organisers on Thursday.