Bangladesh to buy $15b of energy products over 15 years in US trade deal

India is preparing to approve a landmark government-to-government defence deal with France to acquire 114 Dassault Rafale F4 multirole fighter jets, a purchase estimated at around Rs 3.25 lakh crore and set to become the country’s largest combat aircraft acquisition to date.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has triggered its early warning and urgent action mechanism over what it described as systemic discrimination and escalating violence affecting minority and tribal communities in India.

Bangladesh is poised to sign a far-reaching Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan on Friday, a move seen as crucial for safeguarding the country’s export competitiveness as it prepares to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status later this year.

The Bangladesh government has decided to rename the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), moving to rebrand and restructure the elite force amid longstanding concerns over accountability and human rights.

US President Donald Trump announced a significant trade agreement with India on Tuesday, saying Washington and New Delhi have agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs and expand economic cooperation after months of negotiations. The deal was unveiled following a telephone call between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pakistani security forces say they have killed at least 145 militants in Balochistan during an intensified security operation launched after a wave of coordinated gun and bomb attacks that killed nearly 50 people across the province.

Pakistan’s military on Saturday said it killed at least 92 militants during large-scale security operations in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

Incidents of hate speech targeting religious minorities in India increased by 13 percent in 2025, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the Washington-based India Hate Lab, raising renewed concerns over the country’s social and political climate.

Bangladesh`s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of more than one million Rohingya refugees to Myanmar’s Rakhine State remains the only viable and sustainable way to resolve the long-running crisis, urging renewed international action to make it happen.

India and the European Union have finalised a long-awaited free trade agreement that will cover nearly a quarter of the global economy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday, marking a major shift in global trade ties amid growing uncertainty in relations with the United States.

South Korea and Bangladesh on Monday began a second round of negotiations in Dhaka for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), officials said, following an initial round of talks held in Seoul in August 2025.

The United States and Bangladesh are exploring ways to expand cooperation in the energy sector, with a focus on strengthening supplies, modernising infrastructure and supporting Bangladesh’s growing power demand.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Sunday said strong India-Bangladesh relations are essential for ensuring sustainable growth and long-term regional stability, stressing that both neighbours can serve as engines for each other’s economic progress.

The United States ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T Christensen has voiced concern over what he described as “broader Chinese influence” in South Asia, saying Washington remains cautious about Beijing’s expanding footprint in the region.

India has decided to recall family members and dependents of its diplomats and officials stationed in Bangladesh, citing security concerns ahead of the country’s February 12 national elections, Indian media reported, quoting official sources.

US President Donald Trump has formally invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join a proposed international “Board of Peace” for Gaza, an initiative Washington says is aimed at ending the conflict and laying the groundwork for long-term stability in the Middle East.