Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday his negotiators were waiting to hear from the United States on further meetings about ending the war with Russia. Zelensky’s remarks in his evening address appeared to suggest that a second round of talks scheduled to start in Abu Dhabi on Sunday between US, Russian and Ukrainian officials on ending the fighting had been postponed. “Ukraine is ready to work in all working formats,” said Zelensky. “It is important that there are results and that the meetings take place. We are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for them.” Zelensky was speaking…
Author: diplomaticjourna_diplomaticjourna
Tourist travel to Saint Martin’s Island, the country’s only coral island in the Bay of Bengal, has been closed for nine consecutive months from February 1 following the end of the tourism season on January 31. Although the government allowed tourists to visit the island for three months from November to January, tourist arrivals were largely limited to December and January as overnight stays were not permitted in November. Hossainul Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh, said around 117,000 tourists visited Saint Martin during the two-month period. “The government opened Saint Martin to…
The interim government this week noted tangible progress in streamlining investment and trade processes, citing improved inter-agency coordination and faster decision-making as key drivers of economic competitiveness. The updates were presented at the 7th meeting of the Investment Coordination Committee, where senior policymakers and regulators reviewed reforms aimed at reducing bottlenecks, digitising services, and accelerating investment execution. The meeting was held at the Chief Adviser’s Office in the city’s Tejgaon area on Thursday, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this afternoon. “Process improvements can significantly strengthen our competitiveness and directly impact livelihoods,” said Special Envoy of the Chief Adviser, Lutfey…
Reflecting the interim government’s relationship with the Chinese government, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed optimism that although a new government would soon take office, cooperation between Bangladesh and China must continue. “In a few weeks, I will be out of this office and a new government will form, but the work between our two countries must go on,” he said. The Chief Adviser made the remarks when a delegation from the China-Bangladesh Partnership Forum met him on Wednesday at the State Guest House Jamuna here, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this morning. The delegation included senior Chinese academics,…
Danish firm Maersk will temporarily take over operation of two ports on the Panama Canal from Hong Kong company CK Hutchison, whose concession has been annulled, the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) said Friday. Panama’s Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated Hutchison’s contract following repeated threats from President Donald Trump that the United States would seek to reclaim the waterway he said was effectively being controlled by China. The canal, which handles about 40 percent of US container traffic and five percent of world trade, was built by the United States, which operated it for a century before ceding control to Panama…
Election Commissioner Brig. Gen. (Retd) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah today said government officials and employees will not be allowed to campaign in favor of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in the upcoming referendum. “However, they are permitted to inform the public and raise awareness about the referendum,” he added. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a view-exchange meeting with the district Law and Order Cell and Vigilance Observation Team on preparations for the 13th national polls and referendum, held at the Patuakhali District Commissioner’s conference room this afternoon. During the meeting, the Election Commissioner issued necessary instructions to ensure…
At least 16 countries have accepted Bangladesh’s invitation to send a total of 57 election observers for the country’s 13th general election and the referendum on the July Charter, both scheduled to be held concurrently on February 12. These observers will join several hundred international observers from the European Union, the Commonwealth, and multiple global organisations promoting democratic governance and human rights, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this afternoon. Among bilateral delegations, Malaysia will send the largest contingent with 14 observers, followed by Türkiye, which is dispatching 12 observers. The Malaysian delegation will be led by Dato Sri Ramlan Bin Dato Harun, chairman of the Election Commission…
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today stressed on gearing up the technological advancement in the country to roll with the rapidly changing world, saying this sector will shape the future. “The coming world will be fundamentally different. The things we can’t imagine now will become reality. The world is changing rapidly . . . so if we can’t gear up our speed and align with this global momentum, we should think how far we will fall behind,” he said. The Chief Adviser made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the ‘Digital Device and Innovation Expo 2026’ at the…
The Election Commission (EC)has directed all Returning Officers (ROs) to take necessary steps to ensure strict compliance to the electoral code of conduct, particularly prohibiting the use of posters in electioneering by candidates contesting the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS)polls. The directive was issued through a letter signed by Mohammad Monir Hossain, Deputy Secretary of the EC Secretariat (Election Management-2 Wing), on Wednesday. The letter noted that electioneering activities are currently underway ahead of the 13th JS elections scheduled for February 12. It cited Rule 7(a) of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections, 2025,…
The interim government has expressed deep concern over the violent incident in Sherpur on Wednesday that resulted in the death of a political activist of the Jamaat-e-Islami and pledged to take legal actions against the perpetrators. “Any loss of life linked to violence is unacceptable and deeply regrettable,” said a statement issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this morning. With the national election only two weeks away, the government called on all political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, to demonstrate responsible leadership and ensure restraint among their supporters. “Violence, intimidation, and loss of life have no place in…
