Despite a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake hitting Myanmar on Friday afternoon, Bangladeshi nationals in the country remain safe, according to Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Monowar Hossain. His statement on Facebook reassured that, while the quake has claimed 20 lives in Myanmar and three in Thailand, the number of casualties is expected to rise to over a hundred. Many remain trapped under the rubble as rescue operations continue.

A proposed bilateral meeting between Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok will not take place. India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Modi’s only scheduled bilateral meeting during his Thailand visit will be with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on April 3 to review bilateral relations. Following this, Modi will travel to Sri Lanka.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India soon, announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a televised statement on Thursday. “Preparations for the visit are underway,” Lavrov stated. He noted that following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia after his third-term re-election, it was now Russia’s turn for a diplomatic visit. However, Lavrov did not specify an exact date for Putin’s trip.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim extended warm greetings to Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of Bangladesh's Independence and National Day. In a letter, he stated, "I have been closely following and greatly appreciating your steadfast efforts for Bangladesh's reform." Citing lines from Rabindranath Tagore’s famous poem, ‘Where the Mind is Without Fear,’ he praised the courage and determination of the Bangladeshi people. The Malaysian Prime Minister also expressed his country’s full support for Dr. Yunus’ efforts in strengthening democracy, upholding human rights, and building a prosperous nation, emphasizing their strong friendship and partnership. He also mentioned his anticipation of the Chief Adviser's visit to Malaysia in July.

China and Bangladesh are set to strengthen their ties further following a meeting between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on the sidelines of the Boao Forum. The Chief Adviser’s office reported that President Xi Jinping places great importance on Yunus’s visit and expects Bangladesh to achieve prosperity under his leadership.

Reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment to the “One China” policy, Yunus highlighted that “Dhaka takes pride in being the first South Asian country to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative.” Bangladesh has requested China to lower its loan interest rate from 3% to 1-2% and to waive commitment fees for Bangladeshi projects. In response, Ding Xuexiang announced that China would extend duty-free and quota-free access for Bangladeshi goods until 2028, two years beyond Bangladesh’s expected graduation to a middle-income country.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has sought the support and guidance of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a smooth democratic transition in Bangladesh. In response, Ban Ki-moon expressed confidence in Yunus’s leadership, stating, “Under your leadership, Bangladesh will prosper. The country has now found a globally respected leader.” Recalling his role in strengthening ties between South Korea and Bangladesh, Ban noted that Korea and Bangladesh were once on the same economic level, but Korea has advanced significantly.

Yunus remarked, “The people of Bangladesh are extraordinary, but political leadership has held us back.” During the meeting, Bangladesh Investment Authority Chairman Ashiq Mahmud announced that Kihak Sung would lead a 26-member Korean business delegation to the upcoming Dhaka Business Summit. The Chief Adviser also sought Ban Ki-moon’s assistance in resolving the Rohingya crisis and invited him to visit Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk in China to discuss bilateral issues, including Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant operations, wheat and fertilizer imports from Russia, and Gazprom’s gas exploration in Bangladesh.

Yunus confirmed that financial issues concerning the Rooppur project have been resolved, with payments being made through a designated account in Dhaka. Overchuk expressed Russia’s interest in increasing Bangladesh’s wheat and fertilizer imports and offering more scholarships to Bangladeshi students.

On the occasion of Bangladesh’s Independence Day, US President Donald Trump extended his greetings to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the people of Bangladesh. Trump emphasized the United States’ commitment to maintaining its partnership with Bangladesh, particularly during this transformative period. He noted that this time presents an opportunity for Bangladesh to strengthen democracy, economic development, and security. The US President also expressed hope for continued collaboration in enhancing security in the Indo-Pacific region. The US Embassy in Dhaka conveyed his message.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Bangladesh’s President Mohammed Shahabuddin on the occasion of Independence Day. Chinese Premier Li Qiang also extended his greetings to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Xi Jinping emphasized that over the past 50 years, China and Bangladesh have upheld the principles of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and beneficial cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both nations.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has departed for Beijing. His official visit, from March 26 to 29, includes participation in the Boao Forum for Asia’s annual conference in Hainan Province on March 27, where he will deliver a speech at the inaugural plenary session. He is also expected to meet with China’s Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang. On March 28, Dr. Yunus will hold a meeting with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and visit Huawei’s high-tech enterprise division. On March 29, Peking University will confer an honorary doctorate upon him, followed by a keynote speech. He is scheduled to return to Dhaka later that day.

On the occasion of Bangladesh's Independence and National Day, Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent congratulatory messages to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, respectively. They highlighted that the spirit of the Liberation War continues to guide bilateral relations. Emphasizing mutual interests, they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships for peace, stability, and prosperity. They also acknowledged the multifaceted ties between Bangladesh and India, spanning trade, connectivity, development cooperation, energy, education, cultural exchange, and people-to-people interactions. India reiterated its vision of a democratic, stable, inclusive, peaceful, and progressive Bangladesh.

In an official statement, the Pakistani government refuted reports claiming that Pakistani journalists had visited Israel. It emphasized that Pakistani passports explicitly state they are not valid for travel to Israel. The statement reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance of not recognizing Israel and reaffirmed its unwavering support for Palestinian rights based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the people of Bangladesh on Independence Day. He affirmed the U.S. government’s support for Bangladesh’s journey toward a bright and democratic future. He also emphasized continued U.S. partnership in economic development and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. The statement reiterated the U.S. commitment to working together for a safer, stronger, and more prosperous future.

On Tuesday, Russia expressed interest in signing a new agreement to ensure the security of maritime traffic in the Black Sea. However, it stipulated that the US must instruct Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to comply.

According to a White House statement, following technical-level discussions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the US and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea.

The deal includes:
• Restoring Russia’s agricultural and fertilizer exports
• Reducing maritime insurance costs
• Easing access to ports and financial transactions

As part of the agreement, Russia and Ukraine will be prohibited from attacking each other’s energy facilities.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will embark on a four-day official visit to China starting Wednesday at the invitation of the Chinese government. He is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping on Friday morning, with economic cooperation being the primary focus. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) may also be signed. He emphasized that both India and China are Bangladesh’s friends, and relations with both remain strong.