UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has strongly condemned the murder of Bangladeshi journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin, urging swift justice.

She emphasized the importance of protecting journalists who work on local issues from retaliatory attacks. “Perpetrators of crimes against journalists must not escape punishment,” Azoulay said.

Tuhin, 38, was hacked to death by assailants on August 7 in the Chandna Chowrasta area. UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom and journalist safety.

UN Security Advisor for Bangladesh, Tess B. Bresnan, met with Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam at Police Headquarters on Thursday.
The meeting focused on ensuring the safety of UN personnel and strengthening cooperation ahead of the upcoming national elections.
Bresnan expressed satisfaction with the professionalism and commitment of the Bangladesh Police in securing UN-related operations.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged world leaders to take “urgent, concrete, and irreversible” steps toward a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict. “Statehood is a right for Palestinians, not a reward,” he said, warning that denying this right only fuels extremism.

Guterres welcomed recent measures to ease humanitarian restrictions but stressed the need for a “permanent ceasefire, immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access.” He also reaffirmed the UN’s stance that Israeli occupation remains illegal.

Speaking at the United Nations Food Conference in Ethiopia, Food Advisor Ali Imam Majumdar highlighted Bangladesh’s readiness to collaborate with global partners to build a better food future for all. He noted that over the past several decades, Bangladesh has made significant strides in food production, nutrition, and poverty reduction. "From a country facing food shortages, we are now self-sufficient in rice," he said.

Majumdar explained that the country has introduced necessary changes in production systems to achieve self-sufficiency not only in rice but also in fisheries, vegetables, and livestock. However, Bangladesh continues to face emerging challenges, particularly climate change and price volatility.

The advisor emphasized the importance of food security measures, including empowering women, ensuring equitable food access for vulnerable populations, and supporting social safety nets such as school feeding programs to combat malnutrition.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain will leave Dhaka for the United States on Sunday to attend a high-level United Nations conference focused on the peaceful resolution of the Palestine crisis and the implementation of the two-state solution.

The two-day ministerial conference will be held on July 28–29 at the UN headquarters in New York. France and Saudi Arabia are jointly organizing the event in line with the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/79/81 adopted in December 2024.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adviser Hossain will reiterate Bangladesh’s unwavering support for peace in the Middle East, the rights of the Palestinian people, and the realization of a sustainable two-state solution.

The United States has announced its decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The U.S. government has accused UNESCO of being “anti-Israel,” “politically biased,” and overly reliant on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Washington also criticized the organization’s recognition of Palestine as a member state, stating it contradicts U.S. foreign policy. While the Trump administration had previously pulled out of UNESCO, the U.S. rejoined during the Biden era. The current decision, officials say, is driven by concerns over UNESCO's political stance.

The United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) has officially launched its mission in Bangladesh. On Friday, it signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam signed the agreement. Under this initiative, the mission will provide training and technical assistance to Bangladesh in safeguarding human rights. Earlier, the Advisory Council led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus approved the mission. The UN office has been actively engaged in human rights issues in Bangladesh since last year.

All three members of the United Nations Commission investigating war crimes and human rights violations in occupied Palestinian territories—Navi Pillay, Chris Sidoti, and Miloon Kothari—have resigned abruptly, citing personal and age-related reasons. They also highlighted the need to restructure the commission. Their resignation comes amid escalating tensions between the US and the UN over the activities of Francesca Albanese, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Palestine. The US has labeled Albanese as “antisemitic” and imposed sanctions on her—a move condemned by the UN’s Special Procedures Committee as unacceptable.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), nearly 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh in the past 18 months due to ongoing violence and persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. This marks the highest influx since 2017, with the majority being women and children. Overcrowded Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar now face severe funding shortages for essential services such as food, healthcare, and education. As a result, health services risk suspension from July to September, and food aid could be cut off by December. UNHCR has called for peace in Rakhine to ensure the safety of Rohingya refugees.

At least 798 people have been killed while attempting to collect humanitarian aid in Gaza, the UN Office for Human Rights has reported.

As of July 7, 615 of the reported deaths occurred near distribution centers operated by the U.S.-Israel-led Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), with the remaining casualties taking place around UN and other aid centers. The UN has raised concerns that the GHF's operations are bypassing its own humanitarian aid distribution system, calling it a violation of humanitarian principles. While the GHF denies any fatalities occurred at its centers, the UN's report contradicts that claim.

Hefazat-e-Islam’s Dhaka chapter has called for a protest rally on Friday against the establishment of a regional UN Human Rights Office in Dhaka. The group claims the office threatens national sovereignty and constitutes foreign interference in domestic affairs. The demonstration will take place after Jummah prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque. Leaders urged all “patriotic citizens” to join.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, citing her documentation and criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State accused Albanese of waging a “political and economic war” against the U.S. and Israel.

Albanese condemned the move as “mafia-style intimidation,” reiterating her commitment to preventing genocide and ensuring accountability. She had earlier criticized European nations for allowing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to use their airspace despite an active ICC arrest warrant.

UN Special Envoy Francesca Albanese has sharply condemned Italy, France, and Greece for permitting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to travel safely to the United States despite an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Albanese stated that as member states of the Rome Statute, these countries had a legal obligation to arrest Netanyahu if he entered their airspace. Instead, they chose political considerations over the rule of law, undermining international legal norms and jeopardizing global security. She also called for divestment from companies involved in war crimes.

Pakistan has issued a warning to the United Nations, highlighting the growing threat of cross-border terrorism originating from ungoverned regions of Afghanistan.
According to Pakistani authorities, groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and others are allegedly planning attacks on Pakistan’s strategic infrastructure and key development projects.
Islamabad stressed that Afghanistan must not become a safe haven for terrorists, warning that the threat poses risks not just to Pakistan, but to regional and global stability as well.
In a recent high-level meeting between Pakistani and Afghan officials, both sides discussed counter-terrorism cooperation, enhancing regional connectivity, and improving trade transit. They jointly recognized terrorism as a major obstacle to regional peace.

Though Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is reportedly eyeing the post of UN Secretary-General, his candidacy is under scrutiny due to perceived bias and controversial actions. Grossi’s reports on Iran’s nuclear program have allegedly been influenced by Western political agendas, casting doubt on his neutrality.

Critics point out that in 2023–24, unverified claims about high-enriched uranium particles in Iran were politically weaponized, leading to Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. These events have prompted Iran to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. With growing distrust among developing countries—including China, Russia, and India—Grossi’s aspirations face serious hurdles.