United News of Bangladesh

Recognising their common commitment to peace, stability, and international security, Bangladesh and Kosovo have reaffirmed their strong opposition to terrorism, violent extremism, and all forms of transnational crimes. They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect, shared values, common interests, and the principles of international law. The issues of mutual interest were discussed at the second Foreign Office Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo held in Prishtina recently. The Bangladeshi delegation was led by Dr. M. Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Bilateral – East & West) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while the Kosovar delegation was led by Ilir Muçaj, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi on Saturday highlighted the importance of working together to advance the partnership in key sectors and nurture the exceptional bond of friendship between Bangladesh and India. “We recognise that it is the people-to-people connection, rooted in shared aspiration and mutual goodwill, that remains the true beating heart of this enduring friendship,” he said while celebrating India’s 80th Independence Day at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pawan Badhe, among others, was present. Trivedi urged the two countries to work together towards shared prosperity, noting that Bangladesh and India are advancing their partnership across vital sectors, ranging from trade and connectivity to security and healthcare. “Let us also continue to nurture the exceptional bonds of friendship between India and Bangladesh, working hand in hand toward shared prosperity,” he said.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to India is emerging as a key test of efforts to move Dhaka-Delhi relationship onto a more constructive footing, with the two sides stepping up consultations but yet to finalise the timing of the visit. “Everything, I’m reading - not only here in India, but also in Bangladesh - they are all saying possibilities. So I think these are all speculation in the absence of an official confirmation. Nobody clearly knows yet. However, there appeared to be interest on both sides in making the visit happen,” a diplomatic source told UNB, stressing that India is ready to host the Bangladesh Prime Minister anytime. If the visit takes place, it would be Tarique Rahman's first trip to India as Bangladesh's Prime Minister who visited Malaysia and China in June this year. “We have extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for a bilateral visit. We've also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for a visit to India for the outreach session of the BRICS Summit,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi on Friday evening. “So, these invitations have been extended, and I shall keep you updated if there is any progress in this regard,” he added. On Thursday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visits to India and Japan have not yet been finalised, saying the timing will depend on the Prime Minister's schedule and the progress of discussions between the countries. "The government is busy, the Prime Minister is busy," she told reporters, referring to the government's ongoing domestic programmes and upcoming constitutional activities. Asked whether the Prime Minister would attend the upcoming BRICS Summit's outreach session or make a bilateral visit, the State Minister said there is still sufficient time to make a decision. "A lot can happen in a month," she said. Multifaceted Relations Responding to a question on energy cooperation with Bangladesh, the MEA Spokesperson said they have an ongoing arrangement with Bangladesh for the supply of diesel, and this continues. Regarding the additional request, Jaiswal said this will be examined keeping in mind their own requirements, refining capacity, as well as the availability of diesel in their country. "We import diesel from India through the pipeline, and we have requested them to supply more," Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said August 6. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a letter to his Bangladesh counterpart in February said he looks forward to working closely with the Bangladesh Prime Minister to strengthen their “multifaceted” bilateral relations, enhance regional cooperation, and advance their common goals in wide-ranging areas of connectivity, trade, technology, education, skill development, energy, healthcare, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He invited the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman to pay a visit to India at a convenient time, noting that, “A warm welcome awaits you in India.” India Ready to Host PM Asked about preparations for a high-level visit, a senior official said the process would normally begin with the two sides agreeing on dates, followed by formal confirmation of the programme by the host government and confirmation of the Prime Minister’s availability by the visiting side. Media reports suggest different possible dates - August and September - while preparations are being made to accommodate the visit even at short notice. “Before any kind of high-level visit, there is a certain amount of time needed for preparation. You don’t have enough time if you want this visit to take place next week,” a source told UNB, adding that there is always an option for an exceptional approach. Officials need to establish what the leaders are actually going to discuss and whether there are issues that need to be resolved beforehand. Sources said the proposed visit would require adequate preparation on the Bangladeshi side, particularly if substantive issues are expected to be discussed. “Five days are not enough to negotiate even a simple agreement,” a diplomatic source told UNB. “From our side, we are ready to host him (PM) anytime,” a source in New Delhi told UNB, adding that it is unclear whether any conditions had been attached to the proposed visit. He expressed hope that the situation would become clearer soon and that the visit, if confirmed, could take place as planned. There are issues like former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition request; border management and killings; trade and transit; energy; people-to-people movement; water-sharing of common rivers; security cooperation; and regional and global issues. Regarding Hasina’s extradition request, the Indian government said the request is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes. A bilateral visit by the Prime Minister to India would require the two sides to first settle the dates, agenda and political understandings on several sensitive issues, with recent high-level consultations suggesting that groundwork for such an engagement is already under way. Bangladesh and India appear to be moving fast toward renewed engagement despite fresh tensions over Hasina’s virtual activities in India and Dhaka’s demand for her extradition. The latest round of diplomatic engagement came after Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi held a series of meetings in Dhaka, including with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. The High Commissioner met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday and shared the message he carried from Dhaka after his three important meetings with the Bangladesh leadership. Trivedi sought guidance from the Indian Prime Minister on further strengthening the multifaceted and enduring relationship between the two neighbours in a constructive manner with a people-centric approach, the source said. The High Commissioner returned to Dhaka on Friday, a diplomatic source told UNB. On August 4, India confirmed that an invitation has been extended to the Prime Minister to attend the BRICS Summit as the BIMSTEC Chair, while a separate bilateral invitation has been in place since February this year. India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, focusing on global cooperation, trade and sustainable development. "You would be aware that a formal invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India was extended when he assumed office in February 2026," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. As far as the BRICS Summit is concerned, he said India has separately extended an invitation to the Bangladesh Prime Minister in his capacity as the current Chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. "The invitation has been extended as per the standard practice being followed in BRICS for the outreach sessions. Other heads of regional groups have also been invited in a similar manner," the MEA spokesperson said. During the courtesy meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tarique Rahman and the intent to work together with the government and the people of Bangladesh in a "positive, constructive and forward-looking" manner. They exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and discussed avenues for further strengthening bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh with a people-centric approach. During his meeting with Home Minister Salahuddin, they discussed areas of common interest, including security cooperation between the two countries and ways to further strengthen bilateral relations. The High Commissioner conveyed India’s willingness to strengthen people-centric cooperation in all domains, based on mutual interest, mutual benefit, and mutual sensitivities.

Cooperation between the Netherlands and Bangladesh can expand the access to safe drinking water for communities across Bangladesh, particularly those in climate-vulnerable areas, through public-private partnership, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris Van Bommel has said. He made the observation while speaking to journalists during a visit to the Building Water Business programme of Max Foundation in Barishal on Thursday. The envoy visited the facility at Dudholmou in Bakerganj to see how smart, low-maintenance piped water systems, combined with digital payment solutions, enable efficient operations, transparent revenue collection, and a financially sustainable water business in climate-vulnerable contexts. Joris Van Bommel said the two countries have much in common when it comes to water management, as both are shaped by deltas, rivers and the sea. “Water, delta, sea and rivers provide a strong basis for cooperation between the Netherlands and Bangladesh,” he said, stressing that water cooperation should also ensure access to drinking water for everyone. The ambassador said his visit was aimed at examining how the “last mile” of water connectivity could be addressed so that communities could receive piped water at their homes. He said access to tap water is important not only for improving the quality of water but also for reducing the burden on women and girls, who often have to travel considerable distances to collect water. Joris Van Bommel said the experience in Barishal demonstrated that sustainable water services could be developed through cooperation among the government, private sector and communities. “We sincerely believe that is a sustainable solution to make sure that every household in Bangladesh does get access to water in the house, but also that it’s affordable in a public-private partnership perspective,” he said. Max Foundation Founder and Director Joke Le Poole said the organisation had started working more than two decades ago, initially focusing on water, sanitation and hygiene as essential means of preventing child deaths. She said the organisation chose Bangladesh because of its high needs and population density and began its work in Barishal with water wells. Many of those wells, she noted, were still functioning after 15 to 20 years. Max Foundation Bangladesh and Nepal Country Director Dr ATM Tariqul Islam said Max Foundation and Max Social Enterprise had developed a business-based solution for piped drinking water in Barishal and Patuakhali. Unlike aid- or donation-dependent projects, the model is designed to operate through a market-based solution to water supply. Customers pay in monthly basis for the water they receive, he added. Dutch Embassy First Secretary (Water and Climate) Klaassen Inge, Senior Financial Advisor Aminul Islam and Max Social Enterprise Managing Director Yameen Farook were present during the visit.

Bangladesh and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) on Thursday underscored the need for concerted efforts to diversify and expand trade and investment flows, recognising that the existing level of bilateral trade remains below its considerable potential. Both sides also agreed to encourage greater business-to-business engagement, including exchanges between the respective national apex chambers of commerce and industry. Lao PDR expressed particular interest to deepen cooperation on pharmaceuticals and agricultural products of Bangladesh. The issues were discussed at the first-ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Vientiane, marking a significant milestone in the 38-year-old diplomatic relationship established in 1988.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam hosted a luncheon in honour of the delegation of the U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC) and exchanged views on strengthening Bangladesh-US economic and commercial relations. She underscored the importance of continued engagement between Bangladesh and the US business community.  Members of the delegation and Bangladeshi business leaders exchanged views and shared experiences on opportunities and challenges relating to trade, investment, and business operations in Bangladesh. The discussions covered a range of areas, including energy, technology, digital economy, healthcare, agriculture, and financial services, reflecting the broad scope of Bangladesh-US economic engagement. The event, held at a city hotel, provided a platform for business leaders from both countries to interact and explore potential partnerships. The luncheon was attended by Ambassador (Retd.) Atul Keshap, President of the U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council and Senior Vice President for South Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Oliver Simpson, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Excelerate Energy, along with the USBBC delegation, senior government officials and prominent business leaders from Bangladesh. The 45-member USBBC delegation, representing 25 leading U.S. companies across energy, technology, financial services, healthcare, and agriculture concluded their three-day visit on Thursday after exploring avenues for deepening bilateral trade and investment cooperation. Leading American companies across energy, technology, agriculture, and finance explored opportunities.  

The attack in November 2025 on the Red Fort in Delhi was officially attributed to Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and there was some concern about “AQIS trying to exploit Bangladesh” to establish cells, said the biannual report from the UN Security Council’s monitoring team for sanctions on al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS, not listed) continued to evolve from a fragmented group into a regional terrorist entity; it established logistics and financial networks, working in decentralized small, scattered cells instead of large units. Thirty-eighth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted pursuant to resolution 2734 (2024) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities. Regional tensions in South Asia remained high as cross-border attacks between Pakistan and Afghanistan continued, said the report. “The threat level remained broadly unchanged. However, it intensified in the Sahel and South Asia. Al-Qaida senior leadership remained marginalized. Its capability and intent to conduct external operations remained unclear,” said the report in its summary.  The death of Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki was a blow to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, Q.115, hereinafter “ISIL (Da’esh)”), which may further affect its ability to communicate across its global network. In the Sahel, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM, QDe.159) launched a surprise attack in conjunction with the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) against the Government of Mali and announced its intention to blockade Bamako. There was a resurgence of violent rivalry between JNIM and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, the latter receiving increased support from Islamic State West Africa Province; this was the most intense direct confrontation globally between an Al-Qaida branch and an ISIL (Da’esh) affiliate. Al-Shabaab (SOe.001) appeared to shift towards more targeted and strategic operations, while ISIL in Somalia (not listed) remained under counter-terrorism pressure. Cross-border attacks between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated, provoked by a high number of attacks by Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP, QDe.132) against Pakistan. ISIL (Da’esh) tried to exploit the closure of detention camps in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP, QDe.129) took advantage of the security vacuum in southern Yemen in early 2026 to strengthen its capabilities. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, CDe.001) operated at a heightened level of lethality, while simultaneously expanding their territorial reach, extending their presence as far north as Haut-Uélé Province. Al-Qaida and ISIL (Da’esh) continued to prioritize kidnapping for ransom, to generate revenue and delegitimize local security forces. The de facto authorities (Taliban) continued their support to the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which escalated attacks against Pakistan, provoking military exchanges. The Taliban continued publicly to deny harbouring any terrorist groups. Member States expressed concern that the conflict could create opportunities for terrorist groups, generating additional security challenges for the region. The terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan remained largely unchanged. The ability of numerous terrorist groups to operate in Afghanistan constituted an enduring threat to neighbouring countries and the Central Asian region. Despite efforts by the de facto authorities to combat Islamic State in Iraq and the LevantKhorasan (ISIL-K, QDe.161) and contain other terrorist groups, the authorities were unable to suppress the terrorist problem.

High Commissioner of the Maldives to Bangladesh Shiuneen Rasheed on Thursday visited Aga Khan Academy Dhaka, operated by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). During the visit, the High Commissioner toured the academy and its facilities. She also met Medad Ali Virani, President of the AKDN Centre Bangladesh, and its management, according to the Maldivian High Commission in Dhaka. They exchanged views on AKDN’s programmes, initiatives and projects aimed at supporting Bangladesh’s economic and community development.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday said Singapore has long had a proposal for a Bay Terminal at Chattogram Port, which came up for discussion during her recent visit to the country. "You know that the Singapore government has had a proposal for a Bay Terminal at our Chattogram Port for a long time. They have talked about that," she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Shama Obaed said they also visited one of the projects where they have a waste-to-energy and they have shown how they produce energy by managing waste. During her first official visit to Singapore, the State Minister met Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and its State Minister for Foreign Affairs Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim separately and discussed issues of mutual interest. She also visited the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), where she met Regional CEO, Middle East, South Asia, Africa and Türkiye, PSA Vincent Ng, and senior officials. The State Minister was briefed on PSA’s global operations and its use of automation and advanced technologies to develop efficient, sustainable and smart ports. Vincent Ng expressed PSA’s interest in participating in the Bay Terminal project in Bangladesh, noting its potential to significantly enhance Chattogram Port and Bangladesh’s trade and connectivity, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister welcomed PSA’s interest and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation in port development, logistics, technology transfer and capacity building, in line with Bangladesh’s priorities of industrialisation, infrastructure development and connectivity. "We discussed ways to deepen cooperation, including expanding trade and strengthening our energy partnership. We are also making good progress on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, which will create more opportunities for businesses in both countries," said the Foreign Minister of Singapore. He said Singapore and Bangladesh share a longstanding partnership and close people-to-people ties. Bangladesh and Singapore on Tuesday expressed hope for the early conclusion of the Bangladesh-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and emphasised stronger business-to-business engagement. The two countries also exchanged views on energy security, including risks to energy supplies, shipping and global supply chains, as well as climate change, water security, and illegal and irregular migration.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Thursday stressed the importance of coordinated efforts by the government, the media, and all relevant stakeholders to effectively counter misinformation and disinformation. The issues were discussed when Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative-designate to the United Nations, Ambassador Dr Irene Zubaida Khan paid a courtesy call on the Information and Broadcasting Minister at the Minister’s office at Secretariat. Misinformation biggest challenge facing journalism now: Swapon During the meeting, they emphasised the importance of projecting Bangladesh’s positive image abroad and appropriately presenting the country’s position and achievements in the international arena. They also discussed the importance of highlighting Bangladesh’s achievements and various programmes of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the international media on the occasion of his participation in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, said a media release. Various aspects of media management for the Prime Minister’s visit, projecting Bangladesh’s positions and priorities in the international media, and presenting Bangladesh’s positive image to the global community were also discussed. The Information Minister assured her of the Ministry’s necessary cooperation in this regard. During the meeting, both sides identified the spread of misinformation and disinformation through social media and digital platforms as a major challenge. They also held detailed discussions on measures to adopt effective communication strategies to counter such propaganda, ensure the rapid flow of accurate information, and strengthen Bangladesh’s position on digital platforms. The Information Minister briefed her on the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in this regard. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting were present at the meeting.