United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday said the issue related to the renewal of the Bangladesh-India Ganges Water Treaty is moving in a positive direction. "I think it is moving in a positive direction. I hope India will understand its importance and come forward accordingly," she told reporters when her attention was drawn to the renewal of the treaty. The Bangladesh-India Ganges Water Treaty, which is expiring in December this year, needs to be "reviewed and reformed comprehensively" before going for a renewed treaty by engaging economists, urban planners, sociologists, and environmentalists in the planning, as Dhaka shares the "risk" of not sharing it appropriately, experts said. Officials said Bangladesh's agriculture and food availability will be badly affected, while climate vulnerability will increase substantially if the treaty is allowed to expire with no new sharing agreement in place. The Ganges Water Treaty was signed on December 12, 1996, for a period of 30 years, which makes this the last year covered by it. Bangladesh and India share 54 rivers including the Ganges. To discuss all relevant issues that form part of this cooperation, the two countries have a bilateral mechanism in place, the Joint Rivers Commission. Given the willingness and interest of both sides to reset the relationship, an arrangement for sharing the Ganges waters in an "equitable and climate-proof manner" will be one of the first tests of the reset. Former Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq A. Karim said the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India showed that cooperation is possible even on sensitive issues. "But the treaty is due to expire in December 2026, and its renewal will test whether the region can adapt old agreements to new hydrological and climatic realities," he said while speaking at a seminar recently. The former diplomat, who also served as Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA, said, "Across the wider region, water, food, energy, health, disaster management, and climate resilience are regional public goods. No country can secure them alone." The former diplomat said the compulsions of ecological integrity may therefore be South Asia's strongest argument for renewed cooperation. He said the region should consider shared river-basin management, early-warning systems, climate adaptation financing, joint research, and a regional ecological security dialogue. "Such cooperation would not require states to surrender sovereignty. It would require them to recognise that sovereignty in an age of climate stress is strengthened - not weakened - by cooperation achieved through its pooling," said the foreign affairs expert. "MoFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) has to do a lot of homework, and data sharing is key. We need to keep in mind that the situation in 1996 and 2026 is not the same. This can't be seen only from engineering or diplomatic prisms; they should include economists, urban planners, and sociologists in the planning," international affairs expert Prof. Shahab Enam Khan told UNB recently.    

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Tuesday reaffirmed Bangladesh’s continued commitment to the BIMSTEC process and reiterated its resolve to further advance regional cooperation during Bangladesh’s Chairmanship of BIMSTEC. Reiterating to the government’s foreign policy priority of “Bangladesh First,” she underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation in priority areas, including trade and investment, connectivity, energy, climate change, and people-to-people contacts, with a view to delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of the region. The issues were discussed when Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Indra Mani Pandey called on the State Minister Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir on Saturday said Bangladesh wants cooperation and good working relations with India based on mutual respect despite the challenges that the relationship is facing. "We want cooperation with India, but it must be based on mutual respect. We should have a good working relationship with India," he said while responding to a question during a panel discussion. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education Mahdi Amin also spoke, with the discussion moderated by Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud, among others, spoke at the event. The Adviser said it is the norm of diplomacy to regularise working relationships within the neighborhood, and the government intends to do that. "You know, we've made a visit. We expect visits to Dhaka, and either way, we will build the visibility of a working relationship with India. We intend to do that. But the environment must be conducive to accommodating this approach." Adviser Humaiun Kobir said there are challenges in the relationship, and there has been a "tremendous deficit" in the relationship that they picked up over the last 15 years. "It was one way, and it was not done with the interests of the people of Bangladesh in mind," he said. He, however, said they remain positive, given the recent visit of Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman to New Delhi. Adviser Humaiun Kobir was part of the visit. The Adviser highlighted the positive mindset of the leadership of both countries, who are committed to moving forward and making progress. "We can do that. And it can be achievable. Of course, there are challenges. There are always challenges. When you have a terrorist who has fled from Bangladesh after killing one and a half thousand people, and who, to date, has shown no remorse and is trying to destabilise the country from over there, of course, there are challenges," Humaiun Kobir said.

Dhaka ranked fourth among the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 134 at 8:35 am. According to the AQI scale, the capital’s air quality was classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” meaning that while the general public is unlikely to be affected, children, older adults and people with respiratory or heart conditions may face health risks if exposed for prolonged periods. Uganda’s Kampala topped the list with an AQI score of 173, followed by Indonesia’s Jakarta at 164 and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kinshasa at 148. An AQI score between 101 and 150 is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” while readings between 151 and 200 are classified as “unhealthy.” Scores ranging from 201 to 300 are deemed “very unhealthy,” and readings above 301 are considered “hazardous,” posing serious health risks. The AQI serves as a daily measure of air quality, indicating how clean or polluted the air is and the potential health effects associated with exposure. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with severe air pollution. Air quality generally worsens during the winter months and improves during the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for around seven million deaths globally each year, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

A young man was killed and another injured after a motorcycle lost control in the Demra area of the capital early Thursday.The deceased was identified as Md Nazmul, 20, son of Md Delwar Hossain of Rajargaon village in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur. He used to live with his family in the Konapara area of Demra. According to passerby Md Shahin, the accident took place in front of the Paper Mill Gate at Konapara Bansherpul around 1:00am when Nazmul was riding the motorcycle with his friend Iman, 19. The rider reportedly lost control of the vehicle, leaving both seriously injured. Locals rescued the two and first took them to a nearby hospital. Later, they were shifted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for advanced treatment, where doctors pronounced Nazmul dead. Iman received primary treatment and was later released. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to ensure the swift rehabilitation of street hawkers evicted from various areas of the capital, calling for coordinated efforts to identify suitable alternative locations for their resettlement. He gave the instruction during a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Tejgaon in the afternoon. Senior officials from the Local Government Division, Dhaka North and South City Corporations, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) attended the meeting, said a PMO release. PM drives student-built go-kart, applauds young innovator The Prime Minister instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to work in coordination to quickly identify designated vending zones where displaced hawkers can continue their businesses in a dignified and orderly manner. He said the relocated vendors must be provided spaces where they can operate comfortably. Recently, several hundred makeshift shops were evicted from key areas of Dhaka North City Corporation including Mirpur-1, as well as from Dhaka South City Corporation areas such as Motijheel, Baitul Mukarram, Paltan and Gulistan. The meeting decided that the government would arrange alternative locations for the evicted vendors. It also discussed introducing a registration system to issue identity cards to hawkers to ensure better regulation of their activities. The Prime Minister stressed the need to reduce traffic congestion during school opening and closing hours, noting that unmanaged parking in front of educational institutions often contributes to gridlock. He suggested that a portion of school grounds could be used for parking to help ease congestion. Local Government Division Secretary Shahidul Hasan, Rajuk Chairman Engineer Riazul Islam, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqur Rahman Khan, DMP Acting Commissioner Md Sarwar and DIG (Traffic) Anisur Rahman were present.

Reaffirming Bangladesh’s steadfast support for the just cause of Palestine and the brotherly Palestinian people, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday reiterated Bangladesh’s consistent position in favour of a two-State solution, as well as peace and stability in the Middle East. The issues were discussed when Ambassador of Palestine to Bangladesh Yousef Ramadan paid a courtesy call on the State Minister for Foreign Affairs. Both sides also discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Palestine, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister warmly welcomed the Ambassador and conveyed gratitude to the Palestinian leadership for their felicitations to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on its victory in the 13th Parliamentary Election and the formation of the government.    

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked 10th among the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 153 at 10:48 am. The air quality was classified as ‘unhealthy’, indicating potential health risks for the general population, according to the AQI scale. Chiang Mai in Thailand, Baghdad in Iraq and  Riyadh in Saudi Arabia occupied the top three positions on the list, with AQI scores of 206, 201 and 191 respectively. According to AQI standards, a reading between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151 to 200 ‘unhealthy’, 201 to 300 ‘very unhealthy’, while levels above 301 are deemed ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka’s footpaths have once again fallen back into chaos just days after a coordinated eviction drive, underlining the persistent challenge of freeing public spaces from long-standing encroachments. Sidewalks cleared during a five-day drive by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have already been reoccupied in many key areas, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of such enforcement efforts. The drives were conducted from April 1 to 5 in eight traffic divisions, targeted illegal shops, street vendors and unauthorised parking on roads and footpaths. Authorities removed structures, fined violators carrying out mobile court drives. Yet, within days, most areas saw hawkers return. According to DMP data, 405 cases were filed, Tk 11.56 lakh were realised in fines, 57 individuals were warned and 96 others were sentenced to jail during the drives. Relief short-lived For a brief period, citizens experienced some relief in areas such as Gulistan, Dholaikhal, Uttara, Shanir Akhra and Kalabagan in Dhanmondi. Within two days of the drive ending, sidewalks in most areas were once again occupied. DMP fines Tk 3.33 lakh, jails nine in eviction drives In Gulistan, vendors have reclaimed footpaths much like before, though some now operate more cautiously. In front of Golap Shah Mazar, many who previously used fixed stalls have shifted to laying goods on sheets, allowing them to move quickly if needed. Similar scenes have returned in Paltan, Motijheel and New Market areas where makeshift shops line the sidewalks. Visiting the stretch from Science Laboratory to Nilkhet UNB found hundreds of vendors occupying both sides of the road, forcing pedestrians onto busy streets and worsening traffic congestion. Cycle of eviction and return The pattern has become familiar: eviction drives briefly clear footpaths, only for vendors to return soon after. Beyond New Market, hawkers have reappeared in Mohammadpur, Shyamoli Ring Road, Moghbazar, Banglamotor, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Gulistan and several other parts of the capital.

Bangladesh and India have exchanged views on common security challenges and discussed ways to further strengthen their defence ties as an important component of their overall bilateral relationship. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma called on Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. A.K.M Shamsul Islam and exchanged views on 'common security challenges' and agreed to work together to promote peace, security and stability in the region. The meeting was held on Wednesday, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Thursday. They underlined the importance of sustained development of India-Bangladesh ties, and affirmed the unshakeable bond between the two countries rooted in their shared sacrifices during Bangladesh’s  Liberation War of 1971. The two sides reviewed their wide ranging security and defence cooperation, including bilateral consultation mechanisms, training exchanges, capacity building initiatives and  exchanges between the defence institutes of the two countries.  The High Commissioner conveyed India’s willingness to closely work with the Government of Bangladesh to enhance their multifaceted cooperation based on mutual interest and mutual benefit.