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Bangladesh News Bangladesh Foreign Affairs
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Two Bangladesh Navy personnel underwent Guns Orientation and Maintenance Course at Pakistan Navy Ordnance Training School (OTS), Mauripur. The training aimed to enhance their skills in weapon handling. Upon completion of the course, Commander Logistics awarded certificates to both trainees. Participation of Bangladesh Navy personnel in the course reflects commitment to mutual cooperation between both navies.
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The Advisory Council of the interim government has approved the establishment of embassies in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, and Dublin, Ireland.
The decision came during the 48th meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday, chaired by Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, according to a media statement from his office.
Earlier, on Jun 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had written to the finance ministry seeking administrative approval and the creation of different posts for new diplomatic missions across five countries.
The proposal also included Norway’s Oslo, Germany’s Frankfurt, and Brazil’s São Paulo.
The ministry highlighted that diplomatic presence in these strategically important locations would not only unlock new economic opportunities but also contribute to a dynamic, multidimensional, and forward-looking foreign policy.
It said Ireland’s technology-driven and education-friendly environment would facilitate access to IT, healthcare, and higher education sectors, while Argentina, as a regional power in Latin America, would enhance export access, agricultural cooperation, and Bangladesh’s visibility in the Global South.
bdnews24.com
The decision came during the 48th meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday, chaired by Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, according to a media statement from his office.
Earlier, on Jun 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had written to the finance ministry seeking administrative approval and the creation of different posts for new diplomatic missions across five countries.
The proposal also included Norway’s Oslo, Germany’s Frankfurt, and Brazil’s São Paulo.
The ministry highlighted that diplomatic presence in these strategically important locations would not only unlock new economic opportunities but also contribute to a dynamic, multidimensional, and forward-looking foreign policy.
It said Ireland’s technology-driven and education-friendly environment would facilitate access to IT, healthcare, and higher education sectors, while Argentina, as a regional power in Latin America, would enhance export access, agricultural cooperation, and Bangladesh’s visibility in the Global South.
Bangladesh approves missions in Argentina, Ireland to strengthen global presence
The move will enhance Bangladesh’s ability to advance its interests within host countries’ policy-making, says the foreign ministry
bdnews24.com
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Highlights:
Bhutan will carry out its first trial run under the traffic-in-transit agreement signed with Bangladesh, as a 15-tonne consignment is set to move from Chattogram Port to Burimari land port and onward to Bhutan through Indian territory during Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay's Bangladesh visit.
Once the second trial run is completed, the South Asian landlocked country will be able to transport goods regularly through Bangladesh, using Chattogram Port and travelling 684 kilometres across Bangladeshi territory, commerce ministry officials said yesterday.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will visit Bangladesh from 22 to 24 November and will receive VVIP protocol during the trip, a government gazette notification said.
Asked about progress on the trial transit, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman told The Business Standard that Bangladesh has already issued written consent to the port authorities and the National Board of Revenue to facilitate the movement of Bhutanese cargo.
He said there will be no bilateral meeting on trade or investment between the commerce ministries during the visit.
"We have been invited to a dinner to be hosted by the chief adviser's chief adviser on Saturday night," he said, adding that the next commerce secretary-level meeting with Bhutan is scheduled for January.
Bangladesh signed the "Agreement on the Movement of Traffic-in-Transit" and its protocol with Bhutan on 22 March 2023. At a commerce secretary-level meeting in Bhutan in April last year, both sides agreed that the agreement would come into effect after completing two trial runs at mutually convenient times.
In October, Bhutan informed Bangladesh through a note verbale that a 15-ton shipment had been loaded for Chattogram Port for the first trial run and designated M/s Abhi Cargo Company to handle the process. The goods were imported from Thailand.
Earlier, Bangladesh completed four trial runs under its transit agreement with India ahead of the December 2024 national election. Although the agreement was expected to move into implementation, no progress has been made since the change of government.
Commerce ministry officials said transit charges and fees for India's use of Chattogram and Mongla ports were previously set through an inter-governmental committee. Under the Bhutan agreement, a joint technical committee is supposed to determine charges and fees.
However, Bhutan requested the trial run before the committee was formed and before charges were finalised, officials said. Since the consignment has already reached Chattogram Port, Bangladesh is preparing to conduct the trial as a friendly gesture.
For Bhutan's trial transit, Bangladesh has set a document processing fee of Tk30 per consignment, a transshipment fee of Tk20 per tonne, a security charge of Tk100 per tonne, an escort fee of Tk85 per kilometre per container, administrative charges of Tk100 per tonne and a scanning fee of Tk254 per container. Road tolls and corridor user fees will be determined by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.
www.tbsnews.net
- Trial run coincides with Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay's 22–24 Nov Dhaka visit
- Bangladesh already issued clearance to port and customs authorities
- No trade talks planned during this visit; next secretary-level meeting in Jan
- Second trial run needed before transit begins regular commercial use
Bhutan will carry out its first trial run under the traffic-in-transit agreement signed with Bangladesh, as a 15-tonne consignment is set to move from Chattogram Port to Burimari land port and onward to Bhutan through Indian territory during Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay's Bangladesh visit.
Once the second trial run is completed, the South Asian landlocked country will be able to transport goods regularly through Bangladesh, using Chattogram Port and travelling 684 kilometres across Bangladeshi territory, commerce ministry officials said yesterday.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will visit Bangladesh from 22 to 24 November and will receive VVIP protocol during the trip, a government gazette notification said.
Asked about progress on the trial transit, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman told The Business Standard that Bangladesh has already issued written consent to the port authorities and the National Board of Revenue to facilitate the movement of Bhutanese cargo.
He said there will be no bilateral meeting on trade or investment between the commerce ministries during the visit.
"We have been invited to a dinner to be hosted by the chief adviser's chief adviser on Saturday night," he said, adding that the next commerce secretary-level meeting with Bhutan is scheduled for January.
Bangladesh signed the "Agreement on the Movement of Traffic-in-Transit" and its protocol with Bhutan on 22 March 2023. At a commerce secretary-level meeting in Bhutan in April last year, both sides agreed that the agreement would come into effect after completing two trial runs at mutually convenient times.
In October, Bhutan informed Bangladesh through a note verbale that a 15-ton shipment had been loaded for Chattogram Port for the first trial run and designated M/s Abhi Cargo Company to handle the process. The goods were imported from Thailand.
Earlier, Bangladesh completed four trial runs under its transit agreement with India ahead of the December 2024 national election. Although the agreement was expected to move into implementation, no progress has been made since the change of government.
Commerce ministry officials said transit charges and fees for India's use of Chattogram and Mongla ports were previously set through an inter-governmental committee. Under the Bhutan agreement, a joint technical committee is supposed to determine charges and fees.
However, Bhutan requested the trial run before the committee was formed and before charges were finalised, officials said. Since the consignment has already reached Chattogram Port, Bangladesh is preparing to conduct the trial as a friendly gesture.
For Bhutan's trial transit, Bangladesh has set a document processing fee of Tk30 per consignment, a transshipment fee of Tk20 per tonne, a security charge of Tk100 per tonne, an escort fee of Tk85 per kilometre per container, administrative charges of Tk100 per tonne and a scanning fee of Tk254 per container. Road tolls and corridor user fees will be determined by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.
Bhutan begins first trial transit of goods via Bangladesh on 22-24 Nov
The 15-ton consignment will move from Chattogram Port to Bhutan via India during Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay’s visit
emmataylor
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Bangladesh is clearly expanding its cooperation, connectivity and digital capacity across many sectors — agriculture, trade, energy, transportation, and even cross-border power exchange as mentioned in the updates.
One interesting thing is that while Bangladesh is strengthening international energy partnerships, the digitalisation of domestic utilities is also improving. For example, people can now easily check their electricity bill online through services like.
This kind of digital access actually supports the broader goal mentioned in the reports — ensuring better energy management, transparency, and user convenience at a national level.
As the country enhances foreign cooperation in the energy sector (like with Nepal, India, Uzbekistan, Russia, etc.), improving local digital utility services is equally important for long-term energy stability and public service efficiency.
One interesting thing is that while Bangladesh is strengthening international energy partnerships, the digitalisation of domestic utilities is also improving. For example, people can now easily check their electricity bill online through services like.
This kind of digital access actually supports the broader goal mentioned in the reports — ensuring better energy management, transparency, and user convenience at a national level.
As the country enhances foreign cooperation in the energy sector (like with Nepal, India, Uzbekistan, Russia, etc.), improving local digital utility services is equally important for long-term energy stability and public service efficiency.
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The European Union has designated the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) as Bangladesh's National Focal Point for its Indo-Pacific maritime information-sharing network, giving the country a larger role in a system now used by more than 150 organisations across 57 nations.
The EU's CRIMARIO programme has been expanding the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform into a central hub for secure operational coordination among maritime agencies. It supports everything from incident reports and vessel tracking to geospatial analysis and joint responses to piracy, trafficking, IUU fishing, marine pollution and search-and-rescue, according to a press release from the CPA.
Bangladesh's participation has grown steadily as its own maritime responsibilities expand. The CPA's selection follows a series of steps that demonstrated it can coordinate national agencies and manage the technical demands of a modern information-sharing network. The most visible example came in March 2025, when the port authority brought together key maritime bodies for an inter-agency IORIS training programme that laid the groundwork for deeper national integration.
CPA officials also represented Bangladesh at the IORIS Policy Board's third standing committee meeting in Manila from 18–20 November, signalling that the country is adopting a more active role in regional discussions on maritime governance.
The designation of a single national focal point is expected to streamline how Bangladeshi agencies use IORIS. The Navy, Coast Guard, port authorities, customs, fisheries and emergency response units will be able to operate through a shared channel, improving awareness across the Bay of Bengal and reducing the time needed to respond to threats or incidents at sea.
EU officials see Bangladesh's involvement as part of a broader shift toward cooperative maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, where information-sharing and coordinated planning are becoming essential to regional stability.
For Bangladesh, the move strengthens its standing as a proactive maritime state at a time when trade, energy transport and blue-economy activities are becoming increasingly central to national interests.
www.tbsnews.net
Brazil has emerged as the main supplier of raw cotton for Bangladesh, one of the world's top cotton importers and the second-largest garment exporter, surpassing neighbouring India, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report.
In the marketing year 2024–25 (MY25), beginning in August, Bangladesh imported 8.28 million bales of raw cotton. Brazil supplied about 1.9 million bales, accounting for 23 percent of total imports.
India was the second-largest supplier with 1.4 million bales, followed by Benin (1.06 million bales), Cameroon (616,538 bales), and the United States (595,902 bales).
The USDA report said that Brazilian cotton has become popular among Bangladeshi spinners due to its competitive pricing, wide availability during harvest, and stable supply.
In MY24, India was the top supplier, exporting 1.79 million bales (23 percent share). Bangladeshi importers mainly bought Indian cotton for shorter shipment times via the Kolkata and Benapole ports, despite higher prices and some quality issues.
For the current marketing year, MY26, the USDA forecasts Bangladesh's cotton imports at 8.4 million bales, a 1.4 percent increase from MY25, driven by higher usage by local spinners. This is 5.2 percent higher than the 7.8 million bales imported in MY24.
The report highlighted that cotton imports remained stable throughout MY25, despite early disruptions in RMG production following the formation of a new interim government in August 2024 after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled amid a student-led uprising in July.
Domestic cotton production is, however, expected to remain unchanged at 153,000 bales, limited by land scarcity and the long growing period, with cotton cultivated on 45,000–46,000 hectares.
Bangladesh's textile industry has the capacity to consume about 15 million bales annually, depending on raw material availability, power supply, and yarn demand.
Currently, only half of this capacity is being used, with raw cotton consumption estimated at 8.3 million bales in MY25. The USDA projects consumption will rise to 8.5 million bales in MY26, a 2.4 percent increase, driven by higher expected imports.
The spinning industry uses raw cotton to produce cotton and blended yarn, with yarn production expected to increase to 1.9 million tonnes in MY26 from 1.7 million tonnes.
Despite rising raw cotton imports and usage, Bangladesh's readymade garment industry is still expected to import more yarn and fabric.
India remains the largest supplier of cotton yarn to Bangladesh due to its large spinning industry, shorter shipment times, and lower logistics costs, while China is the top fabric exporter, followed by Pakistan and India.
www.thedailystar.net
The EU's CRIMARIO programme has been expanding the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform into a central hub for secure operational coordination among maritime agencies. It supports everything from incident reports and vessel tracking to geospatial analysis and joint responses to piracy, trafficking, IUU fishing, marine pollution and search-and-rescue, according to a press release from the CPA.
Bangladesh's participation has grown steadily as its own maritime responsibilities expand. The CPA's selection follows a series of steps that demonstrated it can coordinate national agencies and manage the technical demands of a modern information-sharing network. The most visible example came in March 2025, when the port authority brought together key maritime bodies for an inter-agency IORIS training programme that laid the groundwork for deeper national integration.
CPA officials also represented Bangladesh at the IORIS Policy Board's third standing committee meeting in Manila from 18–20 November, signalling that the country is adopting a more active role in regional discussions on maritime governance.
The designation of a single national focal point is expected to streamline how Bangladeshi agencies use IORIS. The Navy, Coast Guard, port authorities, customs, fisheries and emergency response units will be able to operate through a shared channel, improving awareness across the Bay of Bengal and reducing the time needed to respond to threats or incidents at sea.
EU officials see Bangladesh's involvement as part of a broader shift toward cooperative maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, where information-sharing and coordinated planning are becoming essential to regional stability.
For Bangladesh, the move strengthens its standing as a proactive maritime state at a time when trade, energy transport and blue-economy activities are becoming increasingly central to national interests.
EU names Chattogram Port Authority as Bangladesh's focal point for Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation
For Bangladesh, the move strengthens its standing as a proactive maritime state
- Brazil overtakes India as leading supplier
- Cotton imports forecast to rise in MY26
- Domestic production stagnant due to land scarcity
- Textile capacity underutilised, yarn imports rising
Brazil has emerged as the main supplier of raw cotton for Bangladesh, one of the world's top cotton importers and the second-largest garment exporter, surpassing neighbouring India, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report.
In the marketing year 2024–25 (MY25), beginning in August, Bangladesh imported 8.28 million bales of raw cotton. Brazil supplied about 1.9 million bales, accounting for 23 percent of total imports.
India was the second-largest supplier with 1.4 million bales, followed by Benin (1.06 million bales), Cameroon (616,538 bales), and the United States (595,902 bales).
The USDA report said that Brazilian cotton has become popular among Bangladeshi spinners due to its competitive pricing, wide availability during harvest, and stable supply.
In MY24, India was the top supplier, exporting 1.79 million bales (23 percent share). Bangladeshi importers mainly bought Indian cotton for shorter shipment times via the Kolkata and Benapole ports, despite higher prices and some quality issues.
For the current marketing year, MY26, the USDA forecasts Bangladesh's cotton imports at 8.4 million bales, a 1.4 percent increase from MY25, driven by higher usage by local spinners. This is 5.2 percent higher than the 7.8 million bales imported in MY24.
The report highlighted that cotton imports remained stable throughout MY25, despite early disruptions in RMG production following the formation of a new interim government in August 2024 after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled amid a student-led uprising in July.
Domestic cotton production is, however, expected to remain unchanged at 153,000 bales, limited by land scarcity and the long growing period, with cotton cultivated on 45,000–46,000 hectares.
Bangladesh's textile industry has the capacity to consume about 15 million bales annually, depending on raw material availability, power supply, and yarn demand.
Currently, only half of this capacity is being used, with raw cotton consumption estimated at 8.3 million bales in MY25. The USDA projects consumption will rise to 8.5 million bales in MY26, a 2.4 percent increase, driven by higher expected imports.
The spinning industry uses raw cotton to produce cotton and blended yarn, with yarn production expected to increase to 1.9 million tonnes in MY26 from 1.7 million tonnes.
Despite rising raw cotton imports and usage, Bangladesh's readymade garment industry is still expected to import more yarn and fabric.
India remains the largest supplier of cotton yarn to Bangladesh due to its large spinning industry, shorter shipment times, and lower logistics costs, while China is the top fabric exporter, followed by Pakistan and India.
Brazil becomes Bangladesh’s top cotton supplier, surpassing India
India was the second-largest supplier with 1.4 million bales, followed by Benin
