United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh on Sunday rejected remarks made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding demonstrations outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, stating that the protests left the Bangladesh High Commissioner and his family feeling threatened. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain outlined Bangladesh’s position while responding to questions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We completely reject what has been said in the Indian press note. We completely reject it because the matter is not as simple as it has been presented. Our mission is located deep inside the diplomatic zone. It is not that it is outside or at the beginning of the diplomatic zone,” said the Foreign Adviser. “The High Commissioner and his family live there. They felt threatened and frightened due to inadequate security,” he said, adding that only two guards were present and stood silently during the protest. “So we believe it is the responsibility of the host country to strengthen security further.” Hossain said Bangladesh is still relying on the host country to take necessary steps to ensure the safety of its diplomatic mission. He, however, warned that Dhaka may reduce its diplomatic presence in India, if required. Hossain said Bangladesh had heard reports that the High Commissioner was threatened with death, though no concrete evidence is currently available. “It was not a matter of a few slogans. A family lives inside the mission. The security situation was clearly inadequate.” When asked whether Bangladesh would summon the Indian envoy over the issue, Hossain responded, “No, what we will do, leave it to us. We are taking our own measures.” Referring to claims that the protest involved only 20–25 people, Hossain said the number was irrelevant. “The question is how such a group - believed to be linked to a Hindu extremist organization - was able to reach so deep inside the diplomatic zone. They should not have been allowed to come there at all.” The Adviser said they are still relying on the host country, hoping that the host country will take necessary steps on the security front but if necessary, Dhaka will shrink its diplomatic presence in India. Regarding the killing of Bangladeshi citizen Dipu Chandra Das, Hossain said the incident should not be conflated with the security of minorities. “He was a Bangladeshi citizen who was killed, and Bangladesh took immediate action. Several arrests have already been made,” he said, pointing out that such incidents occur across the region and that every country has a responsibility to respond appropriately. “Bangladesh is taking the necessary measures, just as other countries should,” he added. Official spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Sunday said there was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time. India is committed to ensuring the safety of foreign missions/posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention, Jaiswal said in response to media queries in New Delhi regarding the demonstration. He said the police stationed at the spot dispersed the group after a few minutes. Jaiswal said visual evidence of these events is available for all to see. No Breach Attempt: India "India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh," he said, adding that their officials remain in touch with Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them their strong concerns over the attacks on the minorities. Jaiswal said they have noted misleading propaganda in sections of Bangladesh media on the incident. "The fact is that about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20 and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh," he said. Jaiswal said they have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice.

The European Union (EU) has said it is supporting seven Bangladeshi citizen election observer organisations as part of its efforts to promote free, fair and participatory elections and strengthen public trust in the electoral process ahead of the country’s upcoming polls and referendum on February 12. With the support of the European Union, the European Partnership for Democracy is helping these organisations develop observation checklists and templates, monitor online gender-based violence, and much more, said the Embassy on Sunday. The EU said an independent and strong Election Commission is the key to any successful election in all democratic countries. The Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) has built its human capacity and is acting now to ensure transparency and efficiency before, during and after the elections. With support from the European Union, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is providing technical assistance to the BEC to run smooth, fair, and credible elections.  

Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram has suspended its visa services for an indefinite period, citing security concerns. A notice was posted on the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) website on Saturday in this regard. The Indian visa services at Chattogram centre will remain suspended from Sunday until further notice, the notice reads. It also said that the decision to reopen the visa centre would be taken considering the situation. The move followed chaos on December 18 when a group of people staged a demonstration near the Assistant High Commission at Khulshi in the city after news of the death of Inquilab Monhco leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. During the protests, the protesters pelted bricks at the office, prompting police intervention. Indian visa centre in Dhaka now operational A chase and counter-chase took place between the protestors and police while 12 people were detained from the spot. Since then, additional police and Army members have been deployed to secure the office. Earlier, on December 17, the Indian visa centre at Jamuna Future Park of Dhaka was briefly closed for security reasons but resumed normal operations the following day.

The solution to the Rohingya crisis lies in Myanmar and among the three classical solutions, only the repatriation remains a sustainable solution. Repatriation of the Rohingya must take place today or tomorrow, although it appears difficult now. Abu Saleh Mohammed Obaidullah, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (Joint Secretary), Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Cox’s Bazar, made the comments at the inaugural session at the international conference titled “Sustainable Solutions to the Rohingya Crisis: Policies and Practices” was held at the SIMEC Institute of Technology, Uttara, Dhaka. SIMEC Research Centre, Singapore, and SIMEC Institute of Technology, Bangladesh, jointly organised the conference. The inaugural session was chaired by Dr Ratan Kumar Roy, Director, SIMEC Research Centre, Singapore. Dr Sariful Islam, Research Coordinator, SIMEC Institute of Technology, delivered the opening remarks of the conference. Obaidullah also notes that “Bangladesh is not in a position to integrate the Rohingya, locally, and the resettlement is not viable as a small number of Rohingya get repatriated. The resettlement number of the Rohingya stands now at just 5500. The change in the international political landscape, with the rise of anti-migrant and refugee sentiment, makes the resettlement option for the Rohingya bleak.” Rohingya representatives, joined virtually from the camps, expressed their strong sentiment to go back to their homeland, Arakan of Myanmar. The Rohingya speakers highlighted the importance of getting recognition for their identity and citizenship rights back in Myanmar. Astrid Castelein, Assistant Representative for Protection, UNHCR Bangladesh, said that digital intervention, i.e., digital data registration, is not only critical for providing humanitarian assistance to refugees but also for a sustainable solution to the refugee crisis. The UNHCR in Bangladesh began biometric registration for Rohingya refugees in 2018, following a joint Memorandum of Understanding. Castelein has made this comment in the plenary session on Digital Intervention for Sustainable Solutions: Biometrics, Data Protection and Legal Concerns for Rohingyas in Bangladesh. The conference was curated with an inaugural session, two plenary sessions, seven parallel thematic sessions, a special session on academic publishing, and a valedictory session. The conference concluded with a valedictory address by Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, who highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, international responsibility-sharing, and justice-oriented approaches to inspire confidence in collective efforts. Dr Imtiaz has stressed the need to view the Rohingya crisis comprehensively. Recognising the complex actors involved, including states, military forces of Myanmar, intergovernmental organisations, business communities, and civil society, is essential for fostering respect and a shared sense of responsibility. Engr. Sardar Md. Shaheen, Founder Chairman of the SIMEC Foundation, which sponsored the conference, was the chief guest at the closing session. He pointed out that Bangladeshi academicians, scholars and institutes should continuously produce scholarship as well as make policy deliberations to have a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, which has put extreme stress in many ways on Bangladesh. The conference has brought together scholars, policymakers, humanitarian practitioners, Rohingya representatives, media professionals, and government officials from Bangladesh, United States, Singapore, Germany and India to critically examine long-term responses to the Rohingya crisis. Discussions throughout the conference underscored the limitations of short-term humanitarian approaches and emphasised the urgent need for sustainable, rights-based, and politically informed solutions.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey on Saturday expressed deep concern over the situation in Bangladesh following recent violence in Dhaka and other parts of the country. In a statement, she said she joined the people of Bangladesh in mourning the loss of Sharif Osman Hadi and conveyed her sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. “I am deeply concerned about the situation in Bangladesh following the recent violence in Dhaka and other areas of the country,” she said. The Commonwealth Secretary-General urged respect for the rule of law and called on the authorities to ensure the safety of all, including members of the media. She welcomed the interim government’s statement pledging to hold those responsible for the violence to account and calling for restraint, responsibility and a firm commitment to rejecting hatred. She also appealed for calm and urged all concerned to exercise the highest degree of prudence and forbearance at this critical time.

The bodies of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were killed in a drone attack by separatist forces in Sudan arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday (December 20, 2025). A flight of Emirates Airline, carrying the bodies of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers landed at the Airport on Saturday morning, according to a media release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army, Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shamim, received the bodies. Read more: Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in Sudan: Condolences keep pouring in from international community After a namaz-e-janaza at the Central Mosque of Dhaka Cantonment, the peacekeepers’ bodies will be sent to their respective villages by helicopter and they will be buried with full military honour. Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and nine others were injured in a drone attack on the Kadugli logistics base under the UN mission in the Abeï area of Sudan on December 13. The injured personnel are receiving treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. One of them has already been discharged, while the remaining peacekeepers are reported to be out of danger, the ISPR said. Read more: Another Bangladeshi peacekeeper injured in Sudan drone attack

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and ARTICLE 19 have expressed grave concern over violent attacks on leading Bangladeshi media houses and cultural institutions following recent unrest in the capital. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it is alarmed by reports that crowds vandalised and set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, trapping journalists inside before they were rescued. In a statement on Friday, CPJ said it is monitoring the situation closely and urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of journalists and news outlets and to hold those responsible accountable. CPJ also shared safety guidance for journalists covering political rallies and protests, outlining measures to reduce risks in situations involving crowd violence. Meanwhile, ARTICLE 19 strongly condemned the attacks on the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, the assault on New Age Editor and Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir, and vandalism of the cultural institution Chhayanaut. ARTICLE 19 said the violence erupted on Thursday, December 18, in the aftermath of the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure of the July 2024 uprising and convenor of Inqilab Moncho. The organisation noted that both Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have faced sustained threats from extremist groups in recent times. According to multiple reports, mobs vandalised and torched the Prothom Alo building in Karwan Bazar before attacking the Daily Star office in Farmgate, where staff were trapped until firefighters and security personnel intervened. Both newspapers were forced to suspend their Friday print and online editions. ARTICLE 19 said the attacks reflect a growing climate of impunity and urged the interim government to ensure immediate protection for media and cultural institutions, deploy adequate security, and take swift legal action against the perpetrators to safeguard freedom of expression ahead of the 2026 national elections.

Brent Christensen, confirmed by the US Senate as the next Ambassador to Bangladesh, is likely to arrive in Dhaka next month to take up his responsibility and lead the Embassy team to build strong ties with both the current interim government and its democratically elected successor to advance the Bangladesh-US relationship. “I am honored to be confirmed by the United States Senate and deeply grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to serve as the next United States Ambassador to Bangladesh,” he said on Friday in a message from his Linkedin account. During his nomination hearing at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Christensen said the United States supports Bangladesh in its journey toward a bright and democratic future. He said the people of Bangladesh will go to the polls early next year – the country’s most consequential election in decades – to choose a new government and a new path forward. Ambassador Christensen also referred to his “over twenty years of experience working on US policy towards Bangladesh” across his Foreign Service career, including a prior tour in Dhaka. He served as Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy here from 2019-2021, according to his official profile on the State Department’s website. Early on in his career, he also served as Bangladesh Country Officer in the Office of Pakistan and Bangladesh Affairs, which no longer exists under that name, at the State Department. His other appointments include Deputy Director, Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the Department of State (2016-2019), and as a Pearson Fellow on detail to the majority staff of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific (2015-2016). He has also been Special Assistant to the Special Representative for North Korea Policy, Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs Cyber Coordinator, Deputy Counselor for Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Manila, Deputy Economic Counselor at the US Embassy in San Salvador, Economic Officer at the US Embassy in Riyadh, and Vice Consul at the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The US Embassy in Dhaka has been running without an ambassador since Peter Haas wrapped up his tenure in the summer of 2024. Since then, a series of charge de affaires or CDAs have filled the role.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday urged the authorities to conduct a ‘prompt, impartial, thorough, and transparent’ investigation into the attack that led to Sharif Osman Bin Hadi’s death, and to ensure due process and accountability for those responsible. Türk said he was deeply troubled by the killing of Hadi, a prominent leader of last year’s protests in Bangladesh, who died of his injuries after being shot last week. Türk called for calm and for everyone to refrain from violence. “Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all,” he said. Several protests erupted at various locations around the country after Hadi’s death was announced on Thursday, six days after he was shot. Some buildings were torched and vandalised, and a number of journalists have reportedly been assaulted. Udichi central office set on fire With the parliamentary elections scheduled for February, Türk said it was vital to ensure an environment in which all individuals can participate safely and peacefully in public life, and freely express different views. “I urge the authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and security of journalists at this critical time, and prevent further escalation of unrest,” Türk said. The High Commissioner said his Office stands ready to work with the authorities and all stakeholders to support efforts that uphold human rights and prevent further violence.  

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Friday welcomed former Iraqi president Barham Salih for being elected as the head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). Salih was elected by the UN General Assembly in New York through a competitive selection process involving candidates from several countries. He will assume office on January 1, 2026, with Geneva as his duty station. Grandi said Salih has been engaged in high-level public service for more than three decades and possesses resolute leadership qualities and thoughtful diplomatic judgment. “He comes from a country that has experienced conflict, persecution and displacement in recent years, which gives him a direct understanding of the challenges facing refugees today,” Grandi said. He added that Salih’s experience and background make him well suited to lead UNHCR at a time when global displacement has reached unprecedented levels. Grandi’s 10-year tenure as UN High Commissioner for Refugees will end on December 31. He took office in January 2016 and has since led the agency through major global displacement crises, including those in Syria, Ukraine and Sudan. Despite significant cuts to humanitarian funding this year, UNHCR continues to operate in 128 countries worldwide. Earlier this month, UNHCR marked 75 years of service dedicated to the protection of forcibly displaced people across the globe.