United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has expressed strong interest in forging a long-term, government-to-government (G2G) energy cooperation arrangement with Angola and invited an Angolan technical team to visit Dhaka at the earliest opportunity for formal negotiations. At the first-ever high-level bilateral energy dialogue between the two countries, Bangladesh indicated its own readiness to send a reciprocal technical mission to Luanda to advance discussions. The Bangladesh side urged the early conclusion of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation to provide a formal institutional framework for the partnership. The Bangladesh delegation outlined the country’s growing energy needs and its strategic imperative to diversify crude oil and gas imports beyond the Middle East. The Angolan side provided a candid overview of Angola’s energy landscape. Angola currently produces approximately 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day and has two new refineries in the pipeline, significantly expanding its domestic processing capacity. Angola also has LNG export capacity and is actively developing downstream and upstream gas fields, according to the Bangladesh High Commission in Nigeria. The Angolan delegation expressed a clear desire for international investment across the energy value chain and confirmed Angola’s strong interest in forging energy cooperation with Bangladesh. Angola undertook to study the proposed MoU and provide its feedback at the earliest opportunity. Both sides engaged in a frank and constructive discussion. The meeting reflected a convergence of strategic interests: Bangladesh’s need for reliable, diversified energy supply, and Angola’s ambition to expand its export markets and attract investment into its energy sector. Both delegations acknowledged the substantial untapped potential in the bilateral relationship and agreed on the importance of sustained, technical-level engagement to translate today’s dialogue  into concrete outcomes. Bangladesh and Angola on Friday held their first ever high-level meeting on energy cooperation through a virtual platform, marking a significant milestone in the two countries’ efforts to forge a substantive energy partnership. The meeting, convened at the initiative of Bangladesh, brought together senior officials from both governments and state energy entities for a candid and substantive exchange on energy cooperation, supply arrangements, and investment opportunities. The Bangladesh delegation was led by the Secretary, Energy and Mineral Resources Division, and included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, alongside the Chairmen and Directors of Bangladesh Petroleum  Corporation (BPC) and PetroBangla. The Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria and concurrently accredited Ambassador to Angola, Miah Md Mainul Kabir, attended the meeting and delivered remarks, underlining the High Commission’s sustained efforts to promote Bangladesh–Angola bilateral relations. The Angolan delegation was led by José Alexandre Barroso, Minister of State for Oil and Gas, accompanied by senior officials from Angola’s public energy sector. The Ambassador of Angola to Nigeria also participated.  

The “Nepal Festival 2026” was held in a festive atmosphere at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy with the aim of deepening the historic friendship, cultural harmony, and mutual cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal. The festival was formally inaugurated by Cultural Affairs minister of Bangladesh Nitai Roy Chowdhury as the chief guest. Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu hosts networking dinner in honor of Nepali and Bangladeshi businessmen attending South Asia Trade Fair 2026 In his inaugural speech, the minister stated that the relationship between Bangladesh and Nepal extends far beyond diplomatic formalities; it is rooted in mutual respect, shared traditions, cultural values, and human connection between the peoples of the two countries. Although geographically separated, both nations are united by a common spirit of culture, harmony, and hospitality. He further noted that in today’s world, marked by divisions and intolerance, culture can serve as one of the strongest mediums for peace, empathy, and human connection. Diversity should never be viewed as a source of division; rather, it is a powerful source of beauty, creativity, and unity. Such international cultural events play an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between peoples. Praising Nepal’s rich cultural heritage, breathtaking natural beauty, and mountainous landscape, the minister emphasized that Bangladesh highly values its longstanding friendly relations with Nepal. He expressed hope that bilateral cooperation would expand further in the fields of culture, tourism, education, youth exchange, and regional connectivity in the coming years. He extended his sincere thanks to the Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari, for organizing the festival through the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka. He also congratulated the artists, performers, chefs, and organizers from both countries for making the festival successful. He added that through this festival, the people of Bangladesh are getting the opportunity to experience Nepal’s traditional cuisine, music, dance, and colorful cultural performances, which will elevate cultural exchange between the two countries to a new height. Special guests at the event included the Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari, and the Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Distinguished guests from home and abroad, representatives of cultural organizations, media professionals, and a large number of audiences were also present at the event. At the end of the programme, the chief guest enjoyed various cultural performances and wished overall success for “Nepal Festival 2026.”

Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom (UK) Dr M. Nazrul Islam on Friday presented his credentials to Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez, as acting Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the IMO at IMO Headquarters in London. The ceremony followed a courtesy meeting with the Secretary-General. During the meeting, they discussed areas of mutual interest, including strengthening maritime safety, environmental protection, and sustainable maritime development. Govt determined to reopen closed state-owned sugar mills: Muktadir They also exchanged views on enhanced technical and financial support from the IMO to strengthen Bangladesh’s maritime infrastructure and governance, said the Bangladesh High Commission in London. Officials from the High Commission were also present at the meeting.

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul, along with Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA), has successfully concluded a high-impact two-day Roadshow in South Korea on 12-13 May 2026, aimed at integrating Bangladesh into the global semiconductor value chain through strategic international collaboration, talent development, and advanced packaging initiatives. The Roadshow commenced on May 12 with a series of one-to-one meetings with Korean semiconductor design houses and the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA). A 12 member delegation led by M A Jabbar, President of BSIA visited South Korea in this regard. Bangladesh hosts semiconductor roadshow in South Korea The main highlight of the roadshow activities was a Banquet Reception held on 12th May 2026 in DoubleTree by Hilton Pangyo hotel in Seoul. Bangladesh's Ambassador in South Korea Toufiq Islam Shatil delivered welcome remarks highlighting the ample scope of joint collaboration between the semiconductor industries of both countries. He discussed the ADB proposed $79 billion, 20-year economic corridor from Teknaf to Tetulia as a future hub for high-tech industrialization creating a specialized ecosystem where semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and electronics can thrive outside the traditional urban centers. BSIA's President M A Jabbar emphasized entering the semiconductor ecosystem through focusing on strategic pathways like design verification, embedded systems and advanced packaging. The technical sessions featured insights on ‘Silicon River’ initiatives from Prof. Muhammad Mustafa Hussain (Purdue University, USA) followed by capabilities overviews from seven leading BSIA member companies, namely Dynamic Solution Innovators, Test Bangladesh Limited, Ulkasemi Private Limited, Neural Semiconductor Ltd., PrimeSilicon Technology Inc., Siliconova Limited, MARS Solutions Limited. On 13 May, the BSIA delegation met high officials of different semiconductor & research organizations including Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), SK Hynix, Hana Micron, Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), Koolmicro, Y-Tech, Growith Associates during their 2 days roadshow. A significant milestone of the road show was achieved with the signing of Letter of Intent (LOI) between KAIST Global Commercialization Center (GCC), Center of Research Excellence on Semiconductor Technology (CREST) and BSIA. This agreement aims to foster joint research, talent development and capacity building in the semiconductor sector. The successful conclusion of this roadshow underscores the growing economic and technological partnership between Bangladesh and South Korea. This is expected that Bangladesh’s emerging industry would be highly benefited from the technological and economic cooperation from the global leaders of Korea in Semiconductor manufacturing. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul remains committed to supporting these initiatives to transform the nation into a global high-tech destination.

Indian acting High Commissioner (AHC) to Bangladesh Pawankumar Badhe has said the two extraordinary poets – Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam – live equally and profoundly in the hearts of the people of both Bangladesh and India. Speaking at a function on Thursday evening, he highlighted that the enduring love and reverence shown towards Rabindranath and Nazrul remain among the strongest symbols of shared cultural heritage of the two countries. The event was organised at Bangladesh National Museum by Itihash O Oitijjo Parishad in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Culture Centre (IGCC) Dhaka, cultural school Tapoban, Nrityanchal and bahumatrik.com, marking the birth anniversaries of the two poets. A major attraction of the evening was “Nrityagiti,” a dance-music tableau directed by renowned artists Shamim Ara Nipa and Shibli Mohammad of Nrityanchal. The performance presented a creative synthesis of the musical and philosophical legacy of Rabindranath and Nazrul. During this segment, the artists performed group dances set to 14 popular songs by Rabindranath and Nazrul. The event featured Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury as the chief guest. Presided over by Prof Niranjan Adhikari, the discussion session featured presentations by Prof Dr Tarik Manzur from Dhaka University and Professor Ahmed Reza from Jahangirnagar University. The event also featured an exhibition of portraits of Rabindranath and Nazrul, drawn by over a hundred students from 13 schools across Dhaka, and its surrounding areas. At the conclusion of the programme, certificates of recognition were presented to the participating young artists.

Bangladesh has reaffirmed that the repatriation of displaced Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar remains the only viable long-term solution to the crisis, calling for continued international support to ensure their safe return. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam made the comments during a meeting with UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari in New York on Thursday, according to the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations. During the meeting, Bangladesh also reaffirmed its commitment to democratic governance, sustainable development, peacekeeping and multilateral cooperation. The State Minister outlined the priorities of the newly elected government, including restoring public trust, strengthening institutions, enhancing transparency and accountability, improving public service delivery, and upholding human rights and the rule of law. She also highlighted several social protection initiatives, including “Family Card” and “Farmers’ Card” programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable groups. Emphasising Bangladesh’s role as one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, Shama Obaed stressed the need to preserve peacekeeping mandates amid the ongoing liquidity crisis and called for greater participation of women and youth in post-conflict settings. Khaled Khiari appreciated Bangladesh’s long-standing contribution to UN peacekeeping operations and its efforts to promote women’s participation in peace and security initiatives.

Bangladesh and the United States of America on Thursday formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strategic cooperation in the field of energy, which Washington sees as a historic development in the Bangladesh-US ties. The MoU was signed at the Department of Energy (DoE) in Washington, D.C. On behalf of the USA, Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed the MoU while Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman signed it on behalf of Bangladesh. The MoU is signed at a time when many countries in the world, including Bangladesh, are facing serious challenges to ensure their energy security due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East region, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen attended the opening ceremony of the “2nd China–Bangladesh Green Textile Expo” and delivered a keynote speech. Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, along with business representatives and experts from China and Bangladesh, also attended the event. Following the opening ceremony, Ambassador Yao Wen and other distinguished guests jointly toured the exhibition stalls. The three-day exhibition will continue at ICCB, bringing together leading stakeholders from the textile, apparel, and industrial sectors of Bangladesh and China.

The Russian House in Bangladesh on Thursday inaugurated the week-long film festival “Frames of Memory: From Moscow to Bangladesh”, dedicated to the 81st Anniversary of Russian Victory Day. The opening ceremony brought together a vibrant audience of Russian language students, scholarship nominees, and representatives from various universities and cultural institutions. The festival aims to preserve historical memory and promote cultural dialogue through the timeless language of cinema. The event commenced with a heartfelt address by Alexandra Khlevnoy, who emphasized the importance of remembering the millions of lives lost during World War II and reflecting upon the profound human tragedy caused by war. She highlighted the role of cinema in preserving historical truth and inspiring future generations toward peace and humanity. Following the opening remarks, attendees were presented with an insightful psychological analysis of the legendary Soviet cinematic masterpiece Ballad of a Soldier, followed by a full screening of the film. The immersive experience offered audiences a moving portrayal of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit amidst the devastation of war. The festival will continue through May 21, 2026, featuring a curated selection of acclaimed Soviet and post-war films, showcasing some of the finest “frames” of historical and artistic cinema. The organizers expressed hope that the festival would further strengthen cultural understanding and encourage young audiences in Bangladesh to engage more deeply with world cinema and shared historical memory.

Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan were among the countries repeatedly battered by monsoon-triggered floods and landslides in 2025, as disaster risks continued to intensify across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, according to an analysis by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Four of the eight countries in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region experienced more than 10 major disasters in 2025, according to data from ICIMOD analysis, highlighting the region’s growing exposure to hazard-related risks. Asia accounted for a large share of disasters globally in 2025, a trend reflected in the HKH, which spans parts of South and East Asia. Analysis of EM-Data (Emergency Events Database) shows that countries in the HKH region experienced economic losses of more than USD $6 billion in 2024 alone from these events, with most damage linked to water-related hazards such as floods, landslides and storms, said the HKH, noting that the situation continued into 2025. Other hazards, such as glacial lake outburst floods, were also reported in select locations. Across the region, about 1.2 million people were displaced or directly affected by disasters during the year. Globally, disaster-related economic losses in 2025 were estimated at more than USD $169 billion. In comparison, losses recorded across the HKH highlight how extreme events translate into disproportionate impacts in a region characterised by complex terrain and high exposure. Data also shows that Myanmar, Pakistan, and China experienced a series of monsoon-induced floods in 2025, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and livelihoods. Researchers link the increasing impact of disasters in the HKH to the growing prevalence of multi-hazard events. Multi-hazards occur when more than one type of hazard, such as floods, landslides, or droughts, happen at the same time or when one hazard triggers another. Past examples in the region include the Kedarnath floods in Uttarakhand in 2013, and the South Lhonak glacial lake outburst flood in Sikkim in 2023, India, as well as the Melamchi flood in Nepal in 2021. “Recent years show how floods, landslides, and other hazards are increasingly overlapping in mountain regions, amplifying damages to homes, infrastructure, and essential services,” said Pema Gyamtsho, Director General at ICIMOD, commenting on the regional trend. Long-term data covering the period from 1975 to 2024 shows a decline in death rates and the number of people affected by disasters in the HKH after 2013. Analysts caution that data gaps may influence this trend, but improvements in preparedness and early warning systems may also be contributing factors. “The numbers are still worrying, but the post-2013 trend suggests fewer lives are being affected year on year, which may reflect better climate services and preparedness in parts of the region,” said Manish Shrestha, a hydrologist at ICIMOD. “Sustained investment in preparedness and planning remains critical as risks continue to rise.” Early warning systems have been credited with reducing losses in some flood-prone areas. In eastern Nepal, alerts issued from a flood early warning system along the Khando River in 2024 helped inform and evacuate around 60,000 people living downstream. Analysts note that reducing future disaster losses in the HKH will also depend on risk‑informed investments, where development and infrastructure planning take multi‑hazard risks into account. Without integrating hazard and vulnerability data into investment decisions, exposed communities risk locking in higher losses as climate‑driven extremes intensify. Experts warn that multi‑hazard risks are likely to intensify in the coming years as climate change alters weather patterns and increases the frequency and severity of extreme events, leaving exposed communities across the HKH vulnerable to escalating losses.