Porimol Palma

Bangladesh and the UK will hold the first-ever defence dialogue in Dhaka today, as the two countries seek to take the bilateral relationship to a strategic level, amid security concerns in various parts of the world.

Palash Ahmed, a non-resident Bangladeshi in Ukraine, was in tears when the correspondent called him in the afternoon yesterday.

Iurii Melnyk, an associate professor of journalism at the Ivan Franko National University of Ukraine’s Lviv, is keeping the world posted after Russia began its invasion on February 24. The Daily Star’s Diplomatic Correspondent Porimol Palma caught up with him on Friday for on-the-ground information.

About 150 Bangladeshis have entered Poland from Ukraine over the last two days, fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24.

A curfew was in force between 11:00pm Thursday and 6:00am yesterday (Ukraine local time) in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa as there were threats of attacks from the Russian forces. An eerie calm reigned over the city, with its residents staying indoors.

There was a curfew declared from 11:00pm to 6:00am in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa as there were threats of attacks from the Russian forces. That left the city into an eerie calm, with residents remaining indoors.

Bangladesh is deeply concerned at the recent escalation of violence in Ukraine, the foreign ministry said in a statement yesterday.

Crowds and traffic have been relatively thin on the streets of Kyiv as people fear a war may break out between Ukraine and Russia anytime.

Dhaka and Delhi have begun preparations for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India later this year.

The International Court of Justice will begin a fresh round of hearings into the Rohingya genocide case amid renewed hope for justice today, a little over two years after The Gambia filed the case with the court.

Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue begins in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh of India, today to improve the people-to-people connectivity and ignite the spirit of Liberation War as the two nations celebrate the 50 years of diplomatic relations.

The UN Refugee Agency has requested the Malaysian authorities not to deport Mohammed Khairuzzaman, a former Bangladesh high commissioner to Malaysia, back home, confirmed multiple sources.

Australia and the United States have announced new funds for the promotion of democracy, human rights and economic development in the Indo-Pacific region.

US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue is going to be held on March 20 under a new reality when the bilateral relations witness strains following the US sanctions on Rab and not inviting Bangladesh in Biden’s Democracy Summit.

A debate over syndication in labour recruitment in Malaysia is swirling around, especially after Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur signed a memorandum of understanding in this regard on December 19.

Outgoing US Ambassador Earl R Miller wants Dhaka and Washington DC to have honest and direct conversations on democracy, human rights, and rule of law as partnership of the two nations is indispensable not only for future prosperity and security but also for addressing global challenges.

“Media reports on recruiting syndicates for Malaysia are nothing but trash,” remarked Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, while talking to The Daily Star yesterday.

Dhaka plans to strengthen its engagement with Washington to smoothen the strained relationship following the US measures taken to keep Bangladesh under scrutiny as far as democracy and human rights are concerned.

Bangladesh’s relations with the US are expected to be strained over a lack of political reform but economic ties will likely be unaffected, a global provider of credit intelligence said in a policy brief.

Kuala Lumpur is set to resume hiring Bangladeshi workers, more than three years after the then Malaysian government, led by Mahathir Mohamad, froze fresh recruitment from Bangladesh citing forced labour and high migration costs.