United News of Bangladesh

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi extended congratulations to newly appointed Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on his appointment. Wang Yi, who is also Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, expressed his intent to work with Foreign Minister Rahman to jointly implement the important understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries and advance the Bangladesh-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to new heights. Dr Jaishanker said he looks forward to working together with Foreign Minister Rahman to advance cooperation between Bangladesh and India for mutual progress and prosperity, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Minister served as Chief Adviser's High Representative for the Rohingya Issue and Priority Affairs and National Security Adviser during the interim government’s period. He joined BCS (Foreign Affairs) in 1979 after securing the first position in the first regular civil service examination after independence held in 1977. Khalilur Rahman served in various capacities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York. In 1991, he joined the United Nations secretariat as a Special Adviser and served in different senior UN positions during the next 25 years. PM Tarique Rahman to address nation this evening In November 2024, he was appointed as the High Representative with the status and privileges of an Adviser. Khalilur Rahman stood first class first in MA examinations in Economics at Dhaka University in 1977. During 1980-83, he attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University and the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and earned the degrees of MA in Law and Diplomacy and PhD in Economics.

Inviting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his family to visit India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Bangladesh and India can truly become catalysts for each other's sustainable growth, work for each other's security and enable mutual prosperity as two fast-growing economies and aspiring societies. “I look forward to working closely with you to strengthen our multifaceted bilateral relations, enhance regional cooperation, and advance our 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 said in a letter that was handed over to Prime Minister Tarique on Tuesday. Tarique Rahman: From London exile to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha Om Birla represented the government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government of Bangladesh led by Tarique Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri accompanied the Speaker.

India has stormed into the Super Eight stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup with a commanding 61-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The emphatic win guarantees India the top spot in Group A with three consecutive victories, while leaving Pakistan facing a do-or-die scenario in their final group match. Despite the intense buildup, which saw black-market ticket prices soar to four times their face value and hotels in Colombo fully booked, the on-field contest proved to be surprisingly one-sided. The match was attended by top cricket administrators, including ICC Chairman Jay Shah and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, in what was billed as an opportunity for cricket diplomacy. However, the traditional coldness between the neighbors remained visible as the two captains skipped the customary handshake, keeping the rivalry as tense off the field as it is on it. Put into bat on a sluggish surface, India faced an immediate surprise when Pakistan captain Salman Agha opened the bowling himself, dismissing dangerous opener Abhishek Sharma for a duck in the very first over. However, Ishan Kishan seized control of the innings, smashing a blistering 77 off just 40 balls—the fastest fifty in an India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash. Along with Tilak Varma, he stitched a crucial 87-run partnership. Despite Pakistan deploying a record six spinners in an attempt to utilize the slow conditions, India posted a competitive 175 for 7. In reply, Pakistan’s chase never found momentum against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah struck early, removing openers Saim Ayub and Salman Agha cheaply, leaving Pakistan reeling at 34 for 4 inside the powerplay. Although Usman Khan offered some resistance with a fighting 44, the rest of the lineup crumbled under pressure from Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya, who claimed two wickets each. Pakistan were eventually bundled out for 114 in 18 overs. The result has simplified the equation for Group A. Pakistan, currently on 4 points, must defeat Namibia on February 18 to join India in the Super Eight. Pakistan ended boycott because Bangladesh’s demands were met: PCB chief A victory would see them progress ahead of the United States—who have finished their group matches with 4 points—due to a superior Net Run Rate. However, a shock defeat to Namibia would eliminate the former champions and send the Americans through to the next round. For other teams, the pressure is mounting in Group B, where Australia faces a critical test against hosts Sri Lanka today. A loss for the Australians would leave them on the brink of elimination, needing other results to go their way, whereas a win for Sri Lanka would secure their progression.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday and extended support in his endeavour to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh. "Delighted to speak with Mr. Tarique Rahman. I congratulated him on the remarkable victory in the Bangladesh elections," PM Modi said. He conveyed his best wishes and support in his endeavour to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh. Modi congratulates Tarique Rahman on BNP’s decisive poll victory "As two close neighbours with deep-rooted historical and cultural ties, I reaffirmed India’s continued commitment to the peace, progress, and prosperity of both our peoples," said the Indian Prime Minister.

His bags were practically packed for Germany. His itinerary included a dream stop in Spain to watch Real Madrid play on February 15. He had even told the national team trainer not to disturb him. Yet, in a twist of fate that scripts are made of, Mohammed Siraj found himself not in a European stadium stand, but steaming in at the Wankhede, spearheading India’s World Cup attack just 24 hours later. The Indian pacer, who had originally planned to spend his time off with friends in Hyderabad and Europe, became the accidental hero in India's victory over the USA yesterday. The dramatic turnaround began when pacer Harshit Rana was ruled out of the tournament due to injury just a day before the World Cup commenced. Siraj, who hadn't played a T20 International since July 2024, received a call that he initially thought was a prank. “Suddenly Surya Bhai (Captain Suryakumar Yadav) called me. He said, ‘Get ready, pack your bags and come.” I said, 'Surya Bhai, don't joke, this isn't possible,’” Siraj recalled after the match. The gravity of the situation only sank in when national selector Pragyan Ojha called immediately after to confirm the summons. Pakistan survives collapse to beat Netherlands by 3 wickets in World Cup opener With Jasprit Bumrah sidelined due to fever, the pressure on the sudden replacement was immense. However, Siraj rose to the occasion, defending India's total of 161 by claiming 3 wickets for 29 runs in his 4 overs. Reflecting on the cancellation of his plans to watch Real Madrid on the 15th and the start of Ramadan, Siraj attributed the events to destiny. “What God has written, no one can change. I came, I played the match, it was all pre-written,” he said.

India’s parliament was thrown into turmoil after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from an unpublished memoir by former army chief General MM Naravane, in which top political leaders are accused of failing to give clear instructions during the 2020 border clash with China. The memoir, titled Four Stars of Destiny, has been awaiting government clearance since 2024. Gandhi’s attempt to read excerpts during a parliamentary debate on Monday was repeatedly interrupted, bringing proceedings to a standstill. He said the book claimed that as Chinese tanks advanced, Naravane was told “to do what he deemed appropriate,” highlighting a lack of direction from political leadership during the Galwan valley standoff in Ladakh, which left 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers dead. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Gandhi of insulting the Indian army and violating parliamentary rules by citing an unpublished work. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah demanded that Gandhi present the actual book in the house. Gandhi insisted his source was authentic and held up a copy of the unpublished memoir to reporters on Wednesday, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had effectively left operational decisions to Naravane. Naravane served as India’s army chief from 2019 to 2022. His memoir, which details his personal life and military career, has been delayed amid concerns that it contains sensitive operational information. Under Indian law, retired military officials must obtain clearance from their former organizations before publishing material that could affect national security. Experts say retired officers can receive approval, be asked for revisions, or face rejection if content is deemed sensitive. Naravane is not the first Indian army chief to publish a memoir recounting military conflicts, with past works covering confrontations with Pakistan and operations in Kashmir. The controversy has reignited political debate over India’s handling of the 2020 China standoff and raised questions about transparency, civil-military relations, and parliamentary procedures. Eight Congress MPs were later suspended for disorderly conduct as disruptions continued into Tuesday. Gandhi has previously accused the Modi government of “ceding” Indian territory to China during the 2020 border clash, claims the government strongly denies. The political row comes amid ongoing scrutiny of India-China relations and the strategic management of disputed Himalayan border areas.   With inputs from BBC

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially confirmed that their national cricket team will not take the field against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, stating the decision was made to stand in solidarity with Bangladesh. Addressing cabinet members in Islamabad on Wednesday, Sharif declared that “politics should not exist on the sports field.” This is the first time the government has publicly articulated the specific reason behind the boycott, which was announced via social media last week. “We have taken a very clear position on the T20 World Cup—we will not play the match against India,” Sharif told his cabinet. “We took this decision after much thought. We should fully stand by Bangladesh. I think this is a very appropriate decision.” T20 World Cup: ICC rejects Bangladesh’s safe-venue request, includes Scotland The diplomatic sporting row stems from the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. The Bangladesh government had refused to send their team to India citing security concerns, following threats from communal groups that led to pacer Mustafizur Rahman being dropped from the IPL on January 3. While the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested a venue change to Sri Lanka, the ICC rejected the plea, labeling the threat against Mustafizur as “isolated.” Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul later said that neither the ICC nor the Indian government provided necessary security assurances. ICC warns PCB of legal and financial fallout over India match boycott Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has supported Bangladesh throughout the process, criticizing the ICC for “double standards” regarding security protocols. The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, begins on February 7. The India-Pakistan clash was scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. The ICC has previously warned the PCB to “reconsider” the boycott, citing potential long-term implications for Pakistan cricket.          

Around 2.15 am early Wednesday, three sisters jumped from their ninth-floor apartment in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, after leaving a handwritten note that said, "Sorry, Papa". Pakhi,12, Prachi ,14, and Vishika,16 were allegedly upset that their father had taken away their mobile phone, reports NDTV. In the dead of night, the sisters went to their balcony, bolted the door and jumped out of a window, one after the other. Their screams and the sound of the bodies hitting the ground were loud enough to wake their parents, neighbours and security guards at the apartment complex at Bharat City in Ghaziabad. By the time the parents broke open the door to the balcony, it was too late. "When we reached the scene, we confirmed that three girls, daughters of Chetan Kumar, had died after jumping from the building," said Atul Kumar Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police. Visuals this morning showed the bodies of the girls on the ground, their mother wailing in grief, and a crowd of neighbours in shock. The sisters were addicted to everything Korean, so much in fact, that they had even taken on Korean names. They had reportedly stopped going to school two years ago. Eight-Page Suicide Note Investigations are focusing on their suicide note and a diary they cited in it. "Is diary me jo kuch bhi likha hai woh sab padh lo kyuki ye sab sach hai (Read everything written in this diary because all of it is true.) Read now. I'm really sorry. Sorry, Papa," the note read. It was accompanied by a hand-drawn crying emoji. The eight-page note was written on the pages of a pocket diary, detailing their mobile activities. Their father, Chetan Kumar, described what appears to be an extreme addiction to the Korean culture. "They said Papa sorry, Korea is our life, Korea is our biggest love, whatever you say, we cannot give it up. So we are killing ourselves," Chetan Kumar wept. "This should not happen to any parent or child." The note also said: "You tried to distance us from Koreans, but now you know how much we love Koreans." The girls were deep into K-pop culture and Korean movies, music, short films, shows, and series, their diary notes revealed. "For the past few days, they had been denied access to a mobile phone, a restriction that appeared to have affected them," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Nimish Patel. Visuals from their home revealed more jottings on a wall in the girls' bedroom, like "I am very very alone" and "make me a hert of broken (sic)". "It is clear that the girls were influenced by Korean culture and have mentioned it in the suicide note," said senior police officer Nimish Patel. The sisters did everything together, including bathing and eating. Their phone addiction reportedly began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Afterwards, they became irregular in school and finally stopped going altogether. According to the police, Chetan Kumar married two sisters and lives with both wives and their children, all daughters. Two of the girls who died were daughters of one wife and the third was their half-sister.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has cautioned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that it could face legal action from the T20 World Cup’s official broadcasters, JioStar, over Pakistan’s decision to boycott its February 15 match against India, a PCB source said on Tuesday. Pakistan decided not to play the high-profile match in Colombo following instructions from its government, but the PCB has yet to formally convey the reasons for the boycott to the ICC. According to a PTI report, the ICC is considering withholding Pakistan’s entire annual revenue share, estimated at around USD 35 million, and using that amount to compensate the broadcasters. A PCB source said chairman Mohsin Naqvi had consulted the board’s legal team before briefing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the matter last week, but the board is now preparing for serious repercussions. “If Pakistan does not back down and play against India, they could face heavy financial penalties, a possible lawsuit from broadcasters, and even an appeal to the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee is unlikely to succeed,” the source told PTI. Prove you are fair: Pakistan legend Afridi tells ICC supporting Pakistan’s boycott The ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee is an internal body that does not entertain appeals against decisions taken by the ICC Board itself. Another PCB source pointed out that Pakistan’s position could be further weakened because the team is already playing all its matches at a neutral venue in Sri Lanka, a condition it had sought instead of playing in India. The source also noted that while the Indian government has not allowed its team to tour Pakistan, it has not prevented India from playing Pakistan at neutral venues in Asia Cup or ICC tournaments, even after the conflict in May. The PCB has not yet sent a written communication to the ICC, though the boycott is reportedly being viewed as an act of solidarity with Bangladesh following their ouster. India to show up at stadium as Pakistan confirms boycott of Feb 15 clash “When the ICC signed a four-year broadcasting deal for its events, India-Pakistan matches were a key component of that contract, and payments were made accordingly,” the source said. “As a result, the broadcaster would be well within its rights to take both the PCB and the ICC to court over what it sees as a major breach of contract.” #With inputs from NDTV

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has agreed to a trade deal with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the agreement, the US will reduce tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said India has agreed to eliminate trade barriers entirely and will stop buying Russian oil. The 25% tariff penalty previously imposed over India’s purchase of Russian oil will also be removed. The announcement comes less than a week after India and the European Union finalized a landmark trade agreement following nearly two decades of negotiations. Modi expressed his delight over the deal in a post on X, saying he was pleased that an agreement had been reached. Trump added that the morning phone call with Modi covered both trade and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He said Modi agreed to increase oil purchases from the US and possibly Venezuela, and at Modi’s request, he immediately consented to the trade deal. This agreement will see India reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers to zero. Trump threatens 10% tariff on 8 European countries over Greenland stance Trump further stated that Modi committed to purchasing more than $500 billion worth of American goods, including energy, technology, agriculture, and coal products. The trade relationship between the US and India had been strained since August, when the US imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, the highest on any Asian country, including a 25% penalty tied to Indian oil imports from Russia. A White House official confirmed that the Russian oil-linked tariffs will be removed and other tariffs reduced to 18% under the new deal. Modi thanked Trump for the announcement, saying the cooperation between the two largest democracies will benefit their people and open up significant opportunities for mutually beneficial trade. Indian exports to the US had fallen sharply after the previous tariffs were applied. The recent India-EU trade deal will also reduce tariffs on a wide range of goods and services and includes a joint security partnership. #With inputs from BBC