United News of Bangladesh

While everyone discusses the politics and the politicians behind the recent eruption of violence between Iran and Israel, what is the true cost of this war so far and where are we right now? Background of the Conflict The conflict ignited on June 12, 2025, when Israel launched a large-scale operation, codenamed "Operation Rising Lion," targeting Iran's nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. Over 200 Israeli fighter jets, including F-35I "Adirs," struck more than 100 sites across Iran, focusing on the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility and military command centers. The operation aimed to disrupt Iran's nuclear program and eliminate key military figures, escalating tensions that have simmered since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and intensified through proxy conflicts involving groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. In response, Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks starting on June 13, 2025, deploying over 150 ballistic missiles and 100 drones against Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Named "Operation Severe Punishment," these attacks aimed to counter Israel's strikes and caused significant damage despite Israel's robust defense systems. The conflict, ongoing as of June 15, 2025, represents the most intense direct confrontation between the two nations in decades. Destruction and Losses in Iran Infrastructure Damage Israel's airstrikes targeted critical infrastructure, notably Iran's nuclear facilities and military bases. The Natanz enrichment facility, a cornerstone of Iran's nuclear program, sustained significant damage, though no nuclear accidents occurred as working reactors like those in Bushehr and Tehran were spared. The strikes also hit military sites, including an underground command center, and energy infrastructure, causing minor damage to Iran's defense ministry building in Tehran. These attacks disrupted Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities and military operations, though much of the nuclear program remains intact. Casualties According to Iran's Fars News Agency, at least 78 people were killed and 329 injured during Israel's attacks on June 13, with the majority being civilians, as stated by Iran's UN ambassador, Amir-Saeid Iravani. Another source reported up to 90 deaths. Among the casualties were high-ranking military officials, including: Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of General StaffHossein Salami, IRGC Commander-in-ChiefGholam Ali Rashid, IRGC senior commanderAmir Ali Hajizadeh, IRGC Aerospace Force CommanderDavoud Shaykhian, IRGC air defense unit commanderTaher Pour, IRGC drone unit commanderAdditionally, nine nuclear scientists, including Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were killed, significantly impacting Iran's scientific and military leadership. In East Azerbaijan province, 31 people, including 30 soldiers and one Red Crescent member, were reported killed. Total Deaths -- 78–90 (majority civilians, per Iran's UN ambassador),Total Injuries -- 329,Military Commanders -- 6 senior commanders, including Bagheri, Salami, Rashid, Hajizadeh, othersNuclear Scientists -- 9, including Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi TehranchiInfrastructure Damage -- Natanz nuclear facility, military bases, defense ministry building.

From 9 to 13 June 2025, France will be hosting the third United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (UNOC, or United Nations Ocean Conference). For this crucial event, some 100 Heads of State and Government will converge, as well as tens of thousands of researchers, scientists, economic actors, activists and citizens from around the world. On this occasion, France’s aim will be clear: protecting the oceans through tangible action. The oceans belong to all of us. They feed and protect our peoples. They inspire dreams and enable travel. They offer sustainable energy, means to trade, resources and infinite scientific knowledge. One in three people relies on the oceans for their livelihood, yet the oceans are in danger. They remain little-known, with neither global governance nor the financing needed for their preservation. The numbers are worrying: more than eight million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year, according to a study in Science. Moreover, more than a third of fish stocks suffer overfishing, while ocean acidification, rising sea levels and the destruction of marine ecosystems gain pace, as direct consequences of climate change. We must act now. More than ever before, we must make sure that multilateral action is equal to the challenges of protecting the oceans. Ten years after COP21 and the Paris Agreement, which established a binding global framework to limit climate change, the third United Nations Ocean Conference is a historic opportunity. The “Nice Ocean Agreements” will form a genuine international compact for conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, fully in line with the sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. To this end, the talks in Nice need to be very operational and action-focused, aiming for better governance, more financing and greater knowledge of the seas. When it comes to governance, the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) is essential. The high seas, which represent more than 60% of the oceans, are currently the only space not governed by international law. The lack of oversight and common rules is causing a real social and environmental disaster, with massive hydrocarbon and plastic pollution, illegal and unregulated fishing techniques, and the taking of protected mammals. To end this legal vacuum, we need the BBNJ Agreement to be ratified by 60 countries, so as to come into force. We commend the ratification by Bangladesh in September 2024 of the BBNJ. It is a great contribution at speeding up the entry into force of this milestone Agreement. Together, committed to protecting the oceans, we will celebrate this great victory in Nice. The protection of the oceans also requires public and private financing and support for a sustainable blue economy. To continue enjoying the incredible economic opportunities offered by the oceans, we need to make sure marine resources can regenerate. In Nice, several commitments will be announced for global trade, shipping, tourism and investment. In preparation to the UNOC3 events, a 'Blue Talk' series has been organized by the French Embassy in Dhaka, in order to bring together relevant stakeholders and strengthen Bangladesh’s role in harnessing the full potential of the Bay of Bengal, in terms of exploration and sustainable exploitation of its coastal and marine resources. The first edition, held on 21st of November 2024, addressed the state of the blue economy in Bangladesh, cooperation with France, and future directions. The second edition, held on the 22nd of April 2025, focused on how to better leverage satellite technologies to support the blue economy in the northern Bay of Bengal. It was also an occasion for a team of our Regional Centre for Maritime Studies (RCMS) based in Colombo to introduce the Centre and explore future alleys of cooperation with Bangladesh. France and Bangladesh share a longstanding partnership in oceanography and, more broadly, in blue economy initiatives. France has been supporting, from its inception, the capacity-building of the Hydrographic Department of the Bangladesh Navy, and since 2023 the French Embassy has deployed an International Technical Expert in oceanography within the International Centre for Ocean Governance of Dhaka University to enhance their academic research and educational activities in the field of marine sciences.   In fact, how can we protect what we don’t know – or know insufficiently? We need to enhance our knowledge of the oceans and share it better. Today, we are capable of mapping the surface of the Moon or of Mars, but the depths of the oceans – which cover 70% of Earth’s surface – remain unknown. Together, we need to put science, innovation and education to work to better understand the oceans and raise public awareness. In the context of ever faster climate change and overexploitation of marine resources, the oceans are not just one more issue: they are everyone’s business. We must not forget our shared responsibility in the context of challenges to multilateralism. The oceans join us all together and are central to our future. Together, we can make the third United Nations Ocean Conference a turning point for our peoples, for future generations and for our planet. Marie Masdupuy, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh

When the European Union’s Ambassador, HE Michael Miller, stepped into the Sundarbans this April, he arrived not as a diplomat on a scripted tour, but as a man ready to be humbled. By the time he left, the forest had etched itself into his memory—not just as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but as a place where tigers, honeybees, and people weave a story of survival that defies the odds. From April 12–14, Ambassador Miller and his family—his wife, Philippa Wood, and their children, Katarina and James—embedded themselves at the WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre (WCBC), affectionately known as TigerHouse, built with the support from the IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP), funded by German Cooperation and KfW Development Bank. The Millers didn’t just observe; they listened, tasted, and, at times, held their breath. At TigerHouse, the Ambassador and his family met the unsung guardians of the Sundarbans: The Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT). These are ordinary villagers trained to do extraordinary. When a tiger strays into human settlements, they don’t reach for guns; they reach for sticks, ropes, nets, and hard-won expertise to guide the big cat home. Bangladesh: A trip across the tides

One of the greatest joys and satisfactions of my life has been contributing to the development of Bangladesh’s infrastructure—particularly during a time when the country urgently needed modern port facilities. We built the first inland container depot, port-related infrastructure, and terminals for oil storage. That’s how it all began. My journey into Bangladesh’s energy sector started at a critical juncture in the nation’s development. At the time, the country’s most pressing issue was the lack of electricity. In 1995–96, only around 20% of the population had access to electricity. I vividly remember those days, and I am both humbled and happy that we began generating electricity at that time. Today, 100% of the population has access to electricity in Bangladesh. That I played a part in this transformation—that Summit was part of it—is my greatest satisfaction. Challenges Facing Bangladesh’s Energy Sector Despite the impressive progress in electricity coverage, Bangladesh still faces formidable energy challenges. I have identified several critical issues that could impede the country’s continued economic growth if not addressed effectively. First among these is the rising demand for electricity driven by technological advancement. I firmly believe that increased electricity consumption—spurred by the growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and related technologies—could soon outstrip supply. This is already happening in parts of the world, such as the U.S. and Europe, where large-scale AI deployment is underway. This observation mirrors global trends. In the U.S. alone, projections suggest that by 2030, data centres could consume up to 9% of the country’s total electricity output—double the current level. In Bangladesh, several factors are contributing to rising electricity demand: a growing population with increasing residential electricity needs; a surge in internet users driving the need for data centres; a wider adoption of household electrical appliances; and the increasing use of battery-powered vehicles, such as electric rickshaws. A second major challenge lies in Bangladesh’s limited capacity for renewable energy development within its borders, largely due to land constraints in this densely populated country. The Renewable Energy Imperative For Bangladesh to achieve sustainable growth, a transition to renewable energy is essential—though not without challenges. The country must diversify its energy sources while contending with geographic limitations that restrict domestic renewable development. With only 55,000 square miles of land, Bangladesh has little scope to generate sufficient green electricity within its own borders. However, just beyond our frontiers—particularly in India, Bhutan, and Nepal—there is enormous potential. Nepal, for instance, has an abundance of green hydropower. We must harness these regional sources and import clean energy into Bangladesh. This cross-border strategy represents the most viable path forward, as envisioned by Summit Group. We have been actively pursuing regional renewable partnerships, including plans to import up to 1,000 megawatts of green electricity from India. Ayesha Khan, Managing Director and CEO of Summit Power International, has explained: “It has to make economic sense. When renewables cost less than fossil fuel-based electricity, then people will switch to renewables. But the way renewables are heading, that is what is going to happen.” She rightly adds that Bangladesh remains “a very cost-sensitive economy” and cannot afford expensive energy solutions. The vulnerability of Bangladesh to climate change further heightens the urgency of this renewable transition. The impact is already evident: we produce 45 million tonnes of rice each year in our 55,000 square miles, and up to 50% of that goes underwater during floods triggered by climate change. Financial Innovation and Global Partnerships Addressing these energy challenges requires not only technical solutions but also financial innovation. Summit Group’s decision to incorporate in Singapore in 2016 demonstrates the kind of financial engineering required to support major energy infrastructure projects. Our move to Singapore was driven by the need to access more favourable financial terms. Bangladesh holds tremendous potential for growth, but it lacks robust governance and a mature financial market—both of which are crucial for executing long-term infrastructure projects, which is precisely what we aim to do for Bangladesh. The Singapore incorporation has enabled Summit to secure financing at competitive rates, thereby helping to reduce electricity costs for Bangladeshi consumers. It also attracted major international partners, including Japan’s JERA Co., which acquired a 22% stake in Summit Power International in 2019 for $330 million. Summit’s dual identity—as a Bangladeshi company with deep local understanding and an internationally structured entity with access to global capital markets—offers a model for other energy firms in developing economies. Education as Infrastructure To me, infrastructure development goes beyond the physical. It also encompasses social progress—particularly education, which I view as fundamental to equality and opportunity. True equality comes through education. Education is the world’s greatest equaliser. Providing such opportunities is one of my proudest contributions. As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, Summit Group has established schools in communities near its power plants, supporting the education of approximately 8,000 underprivileged children. This focus on education reflects my broader philosophy of corporate responsibility. The creation of wealth should not be solely for personal gain or pleasure—it should also serve the advancement of humanity. Summit Group’s Solutions Summit Group has proposed and implemented several solutions to meet Bangladesh’s energy needs. We continue to adopt cutting-edge technologies, including GE’s most efficient combined cycle gas turbines, and we are positioning ourselves to eventually utilise hydrogen fuel. Our approach reflects a careful balance between pragmatism and aspiration—meeting today’s urgent needs while pursuing long-term sustainability. As Bangladesh embarks on a complex energy transition, Summit Group is poised to play a pivotal role. The author is the founder and chairman of Summit Group. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of UNB.  

One of the first things I noticed, the night I arrived in Bangladesh, was that the moon lies on its side here as if it's smiling. This showed me how far away from home I was, closer to the equator, but also foreshadowed that the main thing the moon causes is stronger here: the tides. The first days in Dhaka were a flood of impressions. Fantastic impressions — of Iftars with the tastiest food — to playing guitar in the park. In such a bustling city, where at every street corner, something interesting seems to be going on. Then came the start of our cycling trip: through Dhaka towards the port. On Thursday afternoon (March 27), we criss-crossed through broad motorways surrounded by hordes of tuktuks, rikshaws, trucks, motors, making a chaotic symphony of honks, toots, and sirens, as well as narrow alleys full of shoppers, stalls, and all sorts of different shops. The people were leaving Dhaka for their hometowns to celebrate the final days of Ramadan, and we were right in between this high tide, flowing back into a sea of villages. Buzzing in my head on the boat/launch towards Barishal, catching any sleep was no easy feat, so it failed, but fueled by excitement around 6 am we arrived and started cycling. How far? Around 120 km. How long? Hopefully we'll be there before sunset. Now we were complete, four Bagh Bikers on their way towards the Sundarbans, and after some first kilometers on the main roads, we gathered the courage and curiosity to try out the little and adventurous roads. Finally, ebbed, because although we were biking slower now, we saw so much beauty along the way: beautiful landscapes, forest, fields, and little villages.

On the surface, Bangladesh’s new interim government-backed “fact-checking” platforms—CA Press Wing Facts and BanglaFact—might seem like a sensible response to rising misinformation. But look closer, and it becomes clear that these initiatives raise troubling questions—for press freedom, democratic accountability, and the Constitution itself. Launched on 24 October 2024 by the interim government’s Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, CA Press Wing Facts began as a Facebook page designed to counter so-called “misinformation and propaganda” surrounding government activities. In early 2025, BanglaFact was introduced by the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), ostensibly to enhance media research and verify information, particularly around politically sensitive issues. Sounds reasonable? Not quite. Article 39 of Bangladesh’s Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and the press. While the Constitution allows for certain restrictions—such as for national security or public order—these must be lawful, proportionate, and subject to oversight. When the government itself assumes the power to decide what is “true” or “false,” with no independent checks, the risk is not just bias—it’s authoritarian overreach. Bangladesh has been down this road before. Under the Digital Security Act, journalists, students, and citizens faced harassment and arrest simply for what they posted online. Human rights groups repeatedly warned that the law became a tool not to protect the public, but to suppress dissent. Today’s government-led fact-checking efforts, dressed in the language of digital modernity, carry that same danger. CA Press Wing Facts has labeled reporting by The Daily Star, The Indian Express, and even most recently The New York Times as “misleading”—echoing the tone and structure of independent fact-checkers, yet offering none of the transparency, sourcing, or accountability that lend those organisations credibility. These platforms mimic the mechanisms of truth verification while answering only to the state. That’s where they fall short of international standards, such as those set by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). Genuine fact-checkers operate under clear methodologies, cite sources, publish corrections, and act independently. CA Press Wing Facts and BanglaFact do none of this. Instead, they selectively present data that bolsters the government’s position and ignore or discredit dissenting views. This isn’t about fighting misinformation. It’s about managing the narrative. The government might argue these platforms aren’t fact-checkers at all—just ways to “present their side of the story.” But that defence collapses under scrutiny. If these are merely informational tools, why do they adopt the language and techniques of fact-checking organisations? Why label independent reporting as “fake” or “false” at all? You can’t claim neutrality while playing both referee and player. This behaviour doesn’t just undermine public trust—it may also be unconstitutional. Article 7 of the Constitution affirms that all power belongs to the people and must conform to constitutional principles. When the state begins policing truth without legal clarity or independent oversight, it breaches that social contract. Moreover, labeling certain news content as false, misleading, or extremist without due process risks not only suppressing critical voices but also endangering the safety of journalists. In environments where media freedom is already precarious, such stigmatization can lead to harassment, violence, or reprisals against reporters and editors associated with the targeted outlets—placing them in imminent and unjustified danger simply for doing their jobs. And Bangladesh isn’t alone. In neighbouring India, the Bombay High Court recently struck down similar rules that would have established a Press Information Bureau Fact Check Unit under the IT Rules, 2023. The court found the initiative unconstitutional, warning it posed a serious threat to India’s free expression (Article 19(1)(a)) and equality before the law (Article 14). While the Indian government had claimed the unit would only target misinformation, the court held its vague language risked chilling speech and stifling criticism. The parallels are unmistakable. So what should Bangladesh do instead? To fight misinformation effectively—especially in a region saturated with geopolitical disinformation and propaganda wars, including from neighboring India—the government should embrace transparency, not censorship. That means supporting (or creating) independent fact-checking bodies, not state-run ones masquerading as such. It means disclosing data, engaging with criticism, and investing in public media literacy. And crucially, it means countering cross-border influence campaigns with factual narratives grounded in verifiable evidence, not by silencing stories the government finds inconvenient. Most of all, it means remembering who this country belongs to. Not the interim administration. Not the bureaucracy. But the people. This is not the legacy of the students who gave their lives for democracy and free speech,nor Muhammad Yunus’. It’s certainly not consistent with the mission of the Media Reform Commission, which failed to raise a single concern over this dangerous slide. And it is a profound failure of leadership at the Press Institute of Bangladesh, which should have known better. If Bangladesh is to remain true to its constitutional promise, these government-run “fact-checking” initiatives must be subjected to judicial review. The courts should assess whether they meet the tests of legality, necessity, and proportionality under Article 39—and whether they violate Article 7 by concentrating unchecked power in the executive. At the same time, the Media Reform Commission must be held accountable for failing to address this. It must urgently revisit its mandate to ensure that any state's role in information verification is transparent, independent, and rights-respecting. Fact-checking should never be a smokescreen for censorship. It must serve the public—not the powerful. That is the real test of whether this democracy still belongs to its people. Redwan Ahmed is a journalist and former Visiting Scholar at the University of Southern California. He can be reached at thisisredwan@gmail.com

The road to saving the Sundarbans has always demanded more than just talk—it requires sweat, blisters, and the kind of stubborn hope that keeps you pedaling when the sun burns, and the path turns rough. On March 28-30, 2025, Dutch Ambassador Andre Carstens proved just that, trading diplomatic corridors for the dust and grit of a 163-kilometer cycling expedition from Barishal to the heart of tiger country: WildTeam’s Conservation Biology Centre, TigerHouse, in Joymoni in the Sundarbans. Accompanied by his son, Carstens Jacobus Hermanus, and two other Dutch friends, Niels van den Berge (former Member of Parliament in the Netherlands) and Jongman Karin, Andre wasn’t leading a polished delegation or a media caravan. This was a quiet, deliberate pilgrimage—one that mirrored a similar journey twelve years ago, when a ragtag team of conservationists, diplomats, and students pedaled rickshaws across Bangladesh to sound the alarm for the Bengal tiger. Back then, the mission was to drag the tiger’s plight into the spotlight. This time, it was about feeling the pulse of the Sundarbans firsthand—the heat, the whispers of the mangroves, and the weight of its fragile survival. Andre Carstens, along with the EU Deputy Head of Delegation, Dr. Bernd Spanier, visited the WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre on January 10-11, 2025, for the first time. In less than 80 days, he returned to the same environment just to experience the challenges faced by Bengal tigers, their habitat, and the local communities while also raising awareness among national and international audiences. Andre feels that "People think the Sundarbans is just a forest, but it’s a living, breathing shield for Bangladesh. When you bike through it, you see how much it gives—and how much it’s losing."

The Sundarbans doesn’t make survival easy—not for the tigers that stalk their tangled mangroves, not for the rivers that rewrite its shores with every monsoon, and certainly not for the people who call this wilderness home. But there’s a raw, stubborn beauty in that struggle. This is where Bangladesh’s last tigers hold on, and where, for decades, ordinary people have done extraordinary things to keep their roar alive. Take 2013: twenty strangers including Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Svend Olling, his son, students, entrepreneurs—piled onto cycle rickshaws and pedaled 400 kilometers from Teknaf, the southernmost tip of the country. It was arranged by WildTeam. Their mission? To drag the tiger’s plight into the spotlight. The roads were merciless, the heat suffocating, but something unexpected kept them going. Kids sprinting beside them, shouting ‘Shabash’ (hurrah’)! Fishermen waving from muddy riverbanks. Strangers pressing cups of ‘chaa’ (tea) into their hands. By the time they reached Joymoni, near Mongla at the edge of the Sundarbans, they weren’t just exhausted, they were changed. Twelve years later, today history echoed—this time on two wheels. Charge D'Affaires of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Andre Carstens, his son, Carstens Jacobus Hermanus, and two of his Dutch friends Niels van den Berge and Jongman Karin cycled from Barishal to TigerHouse at Joymoni, near Mongla, WildTeam’s conservation hub deep in tiger country. This is the same place where the rickshaw challengers ended their journey. No fanfare, no big team—just four riders with a simple goal: to feel the land beneath them. They’d biked Bangladesh before, but this was different. Past the brick kilns and rice paddies, past the villages where tigers still slip into backyards, they were tracing a thread between people and wilderness. As Ambassador Carstens and his 29-year-old son cycled toward TigerHouse, Niels’s two-year-old son, Sam, eagerly awaited their arrival with his mother, Sampa, and his grandparents. The young boy’s excitement added a heartwarming touch to the adventure.  

As the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 begins, the world is at the tipping point of profound geopolitical and economic transformations. The growing disparities between Western governments and the inefficacy of governance are now a global core debate; most Global South nations are now focusing on developing interdependent regional cooperation. The shift in dynamics is indicative of the Global South taking an increasingly influential position that works to realize the vision of a group of states that are intent on creating their own path of modernization and development. The Global South presents a hopeful atmosphere in Asia by leading the way in establishing a path for sustainable economic growth. Over the years, the BFA has established itself as a leading platform for dialogue on global issues, ranging from trade and finance to technology, climate action and sustainable development. As a global platform for countries of the region to build cooperation, mutual trust and forge solutions of common benefit to the wider Global South, the forum is the first of its kind. The rise of China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other emerging economies continues, highlighting the Global South's increasing impact on shaping a future world with a global power balance. Meanwhile, Europe and the U.S. are beset by growing political turmoil, and the Middle East struggles with instability; nations in Asia engage in increasingly constructive dialogue on shared interests, such as China-Japan-South Korea trilateral talks. These efforts highlight the potential of regional cooperation to surpass old divisions and build new paths forward. The rapid economic growth of Global South countries demonstrates that the Global South is not merely a passive player but an active participant in the global economy. These nations are uniquely positioned to drive innovation and modernization by developing strategies suited to their specific conditions while responding to the worldwide demand for progress. The Global South's economic rise is no longer a prediction; it's a fact. Today (as of 2023), these nations alone account for 42 percent of the world's GDP, and this figure has been steadily increasing as emerging economies declined and significant Asian economies grew. Emerging markets, of which many in the Global South, including the powerhouses of China, Brazil and South Africa, now account for over 50 percent of global GDP in 2024. Over the last two decades, more than 1 billion people in developing countries have been lifted out of extreme poverty, a testament to the Global South’s capacity for transformation. Yet, this momentum must be harnessed strategically to bridge the North-South divide. During the past decade, the Asian region has undergone a profound transformation across multiple sectors, amplifying the Global South's potential, out of which decentralized supply chains have emerged, linking landlocked nations from East Asia to Central Asia and Europe via expanding rail networks, such as the China-Europe Railway Express, which has grown to connect more than 220 cities across 25 European countries since its inception. Simultaneously, the East-West sea routes have seen significant development with the rise of major ports like Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Gwadar in Pakistan, new facilities in Chittagong Port in Bangladesh and Tuas Maga Port in Singapore. In India, new greenfield ports are built with associated infrastructure, such as railway lines through the Sagarmala project and the National Maritime Development Program, which emphasize Asian growth. These developments not only enhance connectivity for landlocked states like Nepal and Central Asian nations but also position Asia as a hub for global commerce, building an antifragile trade system with an alternative towards uniform East-West shipping routes. However, modernization for the Global South cannot be a rerun of the models used in previous decades. The future course must suit these regional nations' unique opportunities and challenges. As Chinese President Xi Jinping underlined at the 2023 BFA, the future of the Global South must be based on values that advance peace, security and collaboration. In tackling security issues, his six pledges under the Global Security Initiative emphasize the significance of inclusiveness, peaceful dispute resolution, sovereignty respect, and comprehensive and cooperative security. These ideas are essential for maintaining political stability and creating an atmosphere that supports economic development and advancement. In particular, the digital transformation presents vast opportunities for the Global South nations to overcome traditional development stages. Countries like China, India and Vietnam are already making strides in technology and digital infrastructure, which can accelerate their economic and social development. At the same time, fostering innovation in green technologies and sustainable industries will help the Global South nations meet the challenges of climate change while ensuring future prosperity.   Yasiru Ranaraja, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a researcher on maritime affairs and expert on Belt and Road Initiative development. He is also the founding director of the Belt Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL), an international development organization and think tank in Sri Lanka.

As Bangladesh posthumously bestows the Independence Award on Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, it recognises a legacy that helped build Bangladesh after 1971. While Abed Bhai is widely remembered for BRAC’s contributions to poverty alleviation and general development focused on the poor, his involvement in the 1970 Bhola Cyclone relief work and the Liberation War of 1971 is less discussed. They show a person whose moral vision went beyond the limits of conventional social work and entered the realm of imagining the possibilities for those who had lost much but had the strength to fight back. I recently interviewed Dr Martha Chen and Dr Lincoln Chen, who shared their memories of Abed Bhai with us on those two events. Dr Martha Chen worked with BRAC in the 1970s, working with women to exit poverty in villages and urban settlements, while Dr Lincoln Chen represented the Ford Foundation in India and Bangladesh from 1973 to 1987. In 2008, he became the Chair of the Board of BRAC USA. We excerpt: A Defining Moment in Bhola “Abed Bhai’s transformation began in the aftermath of the devastating Bhola Cyclone of November 1970. At the time, he was a high-ranking executive at Shell Oil, leading a comfortable life in Chattogram. However, when the cyclone claimed half a million lives, he could not remain a passive witness. Mobilising friends and colleagues, he turned his garage into a relief hub, a foreshadowing of the extraordinary institutional leader he would become later.” “This was no ordinary relief effort. Abed Bhai and his team, working through the newly formed Health, Education and Livelihood Programme (HELP), coordinated international aid and orchestrated complex relief operations. Supplies arrived via German helicopters, and seaplanes dropped emergency goods.” What set him apart was his ability to swiftly organise, strategise and execute, ensuring that aid reached the most vulnerable. He was not merely providing relief; he was redefining how disaster response could be structured. “Yet his humanitarian instinct was not just about logistics — it was about dignity. He understood that beyond food and shelter, survivors needed agency in rebuilding their lives. This philosophy would later become BRAC’s guiding principle: empowering people rather than imposing solutions.” The War that Forged a Revolutionary Mind “If the cyclone stirred his conscience, the war solidified his commitment to a greater cause. The brutality of Operation Searchlight on 25 March 1971 left Dhaka and its people reeling. For Abed, staying neutral was never an option. Working from Chattogram, he played a crucial role in supporting the resistance.” “His contributions extended beyond strategy and support. In London, he mobilised resources, mortgaged his own home, and even arranged funding for mercenaries to sabotage Pakistani supply lines — a lesser-known yet telling example of his ability to think beyond conventional resistance.“ “His actions were neither random nor impulsive; they stemmed from a deep understanding of structural organisation. This meticulous attention to planning would later define BRAC’s success in rebuilding a war-torn nation.” The Birth of a Lifelong Mission “When Bangladesh emerged independent, Abed Bhai did not return to the corporate world. Instead, he chose the remote village of Shalla, where returning refugees arrived with nothing but despair. There, he realised that rehabilitation was not enough. The cycle of poverty had to be broken, not merely patched over.” “From those beginnings, BRAC was born — not as a conventional charity but as an institution pioneering social enterprises, microfinance, education, and healthcare, all grounded in self-sufficiency.“ “His model was radical: rather than simply dispensing aid, BRAC would teach people to sustain themselves. He was not just a social worker; he was an architect of change.” Beyond Philanthropy: A Master of Systemic Change “What set Abed Bhai apart was his unwavering pragmatism. His philosophy was simple: if a solution works, scale it. If it does not, discard it. He refused to be swayed by ideology or sentiment.” “This was evident in one of his boldest initiatives — taking Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) nationwide despite initial scepticism. Instead of relying on traditional pilot projects, he deployed an army of health workers to teach mothers how to save their children from dehydration. The result? A staggering reduction in child mortality rates, proving that empowerment, not dependency, was the key to sustainable change.” The Visionary, not the Complacent “For Abed Bhai, no achievement was ever final. His ability to constantly evolve set him apart. He moved from rehabilitation to development, from microfinance to social enterprises, from national impact to global reach. Whether launching Aarong to empower artisans, creating BRAC Bank to revolutionise financial inclusion, or pioneering digital finance through bKash, he remained ahead of his time.” “His journey was not just about building institutions; it was about proving that the poorest of the poor could be at the centre of economic growth. He did not just uplift individuals; he reshaped entire systems.” A Legacy Beyond Recognition As Bangladesh honours Sir Fazle Hasan Abed with the Independence Award, it is not merely acknowledging his contributions; it is recognising a philosophy that transformed lives. In remembering Abed Bhai, we do not just celebrate what he did — we remind ourselves of what is possible when vision meets execution. The award is recognition of that vision. Professor Afsan Chowdhury is a journalist, historian and development specialist. He is also the Editor-at-Large of Dhaka Courier and UNB