DHAKA – President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today urged the United States to simplify its visa processing procedures for Bangladeshi tourists and business people to facilitate people-to-people and business ties between the two countries. The President made the call when US ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christenen paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban this morning.

During the meeting, the US envoy congratulated the President on his assumption of office as the President of Bangladesh. Recalling the past US investment and cooperation in the country’s agricultural development, the President called for further US investment and cooperation in the country’s development sector.

He also referred to Chevron’s investment and important role in the development of the country’s energy sector and urged increased US investment in Bangladesh’s energy, information technology, infrastructure, and health and high-tech industries sectors. The President also sought US cooperation in ensuring the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland.

Thanking the US ambassador, the President said, “The United States is one of the Bangladesh’s important development partners. The existing trade relations with the US are playing an important role in Bangladesh’s economic development.”

On international relations, the President said, “Bangladesh attaches the highest importance to the principles of independence, sovereignty, national interest, mutual respect and equality in its international relations.”

He expressed the hope that bilateral relations and trade agreements with the United States would be further expanded in the days to come through mutual respect while protecting common interests. Referring to the recent bilateral trade agreements with US, the President said, “This is an important development in expanding the trade relations between the two countries.”

“There is a scope to make the agreement more balanced and mutually beneficial, taking into consideration the economic realities and interests of both the countries,” he added.

The ambassador assured that the US would continue its cooperation with Bangladesh and stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with ASEAN countries. He also reiterated his US’s interest in further deepening and diversifying relations with Bangladesh. Military secretary to the President and Press Secretary and senior officials were present during the meeting.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC: Nearly 600,000 jobs in Bangladesh could be at risk if the economic fallout from the ongoing Middle East conflict persists, according to a World Bank assessment. The warning comes as Bangladesh faces rising fuel prices, severe gas shortages, disruptions to fertilizer production and growing pressure on industries and household incomes.

The World Bank’s mid-June assessment, prepared as part of a proposed Contingent Emergency Response Project, said the conflict could significantly weaken Bangladesh’s economic recovery and slow the pace of poverty reduction.

The assessment estimates that the number of people expected to move out of poverty in 2026 could fall from around 1.7 million to about 500,000 because of the conflict. Bangladesh had already been facing rising poverty. The World Bank estimated that the number of poor people increased by about 1.4 million in 2025, as weak job creation, slow growth in labor incomes and persistent inflation reduced the poverty-reducing impact of economic growth.

Energy crisis adds to pressure

The energy sector is among the areas most severely affected. Natural gas accounts for more than half of Bangladesh’s primary energy supply, while domestic gas production has fallen significantly from its 2016 peak. The country also relies heavily on the Middle East for imported energy, sourcing about 60–65% of its crude oil and 55–60% of its LNG from the region.

The conflict has disrupted LNG supplies, with five of Petrobangla’s six LNG supply contracts reportedly placed under force majeure. Spot LNG prices have risen to around $24–$28 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), more than double their previous level.

Higher energy costs are also expected to put additional pressure on inflation. The World Bank assessment said that passing higher energy prices on to consumers could increase inflation by more than 0.5 percentage points, with further effects on food and non-food prices.

Fertilizer production disrupted

Bangladesh’s agriculture sector is also vulnerable to the crisis. Gas shortages have forced five of the country’s six domestic urea fertilizer plants to suspend production, while international urea prices have increased by around 30%. The World Bank warned that fertilizer prices could potentially rise much further if the disruption continues, increasing production costs for farmers and putting additional pressure on food prices.

Smallholder farmers, who represent a significant share of Bangladesh’s population, could be particularly exposed to higher input costs and supply disruptions.

Industries and workers under pressure

The energy crisis is also affecting industrial activity. Factory operating hours, production and new industrial gas connections have reportedly been affected, while some businesses have faced rising operating costs.

The World Bank’s projection of nearly 600,000 jobs at risk reflects the broader economic consequences of higher energy costs, supply disruptions, weaker production and inflation. Economists have also pointed to signs of the crisis already appearing in the labor market, including factory closures, reduced working hours and job losses.

Government finances face additional strain

The crisis could also increase pressure on Bangladesh’s public finances. Higher energy subsidies could substantially increase government expenditure, potentially reducing the fiscal space available for social protection and emergency programs, according to the World Bank assessment.

The World Bank has already approved $1.1 billion in emergency financing for Bangladesh to help protect food security, support vulnerable households and businesses, and address volatility in global fertilizer and fuel markets.

Risk, not a confirmed job-loss figure

The World Bank’s figure of nearly 600,000 should be understood as a projection of potential job losses if the crisis continues, rather than a confirmed number of workers who will definitely lose their jobs.

The final impact will depend on how long the Middle East conflict lasts, global energy and fertilizer prices, supply conditions and Bangladesh’s ability to manage the economic shock. For Bangladesh, however, the warning highlights the vulnerability of an economy already struggling with inflation, weak job creation and limited fiscal space.

Source: World Bank assessment on Bangladesh’s proposed Contingent Emergency Response Project.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C.: The United States House of Representatives has taken a major step to avert a potential government shutdown, overwhelmingly passing a short-term federal funding bill on Tuesday.

The measure passed by a vote of 370–48 and would keep the federal government funded through December 11, 2026. The bill has now been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature. The Senate had already approved the measure on August 8.

The vote came as Congress has yet to complete the full set of spending legislation needed to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2027. The new fiscal year begins on October 1. With lawmakers unable to complete the 12 regular appropriations bills, Congress turned to a temporary funding measure to prevent federal agencies from running out of money at the start of the new fiscal year.

The House vote received strong bipartisan support. According to the official House Clerk’s voting record, 193 Republicans, 176 Democrats and one Independent voted in favor of the measure. Nineteen Republicans and 29 Democrats voted against it, while 14 members did not vote.

The legislation, H.R. 6500, is a continuing appropriations measure designed to maintain federal government funding on a temporary basis. By extending current funding through December 11, it removes the immediate threat of a shutdown that otherwise could have begun when existing funding expires on October 1.

The Senate passed the measure on August 8. Following Tuesday’s House approval, the legislation was sent to President Trump. Once signed, it will become law and provide temporary funding for federal operations through December 11.

However, Tuesday’s vote does not resolve the broader budget dispute facing Washington. Instead, it postpones the most difficult funding decisions until later in the year. Congress will still need to negotiate and approve the full set of appropriations measures for fiscal year 2027 before the December 11 deadline.

The timing of the agreement also carries significant political implications. The United States is scheduled to hold its midterm elections on November 3, and lawmakers from both parties have a strong incentive to avoid a government shutdown during the final weeks of the campaign. A shutdown could disrupt federal services, affect government workers and create additional political pressure ahead of the elections.

The temporary funding agreement therefore allows Congress to move the broader budget confrontation beyond the November elections. Lawmakers will have additional time to negotiate the government’s full-year spending plans after the election.

The bill also contains funding provisions for specific areas. Among them is $1.2 billion in additional funding related to the continued construction of Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines, according to information released by congressional lawmakers.

Despite the overwhelming bipartisan vote, disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over federal spending and policy priorities remain unresolved. Some Republicans opposed the measure over policy concerns, while Democrats have also criticized aspects of the administration’s spending and policy agenda.

Nevertheless, Tuesday’s vote represents a significant bipartisan effort to keep the federal government operating and prevent an immediate shutdown.

For now, Washington has avoided another shutdown crisis. But the underlying budget battle has not gone away. As the December 11 deadline approaches, Congress will once again face the question of whether it can reach agreement on the full fiscal year 2027 spending bills—or whether the United States will once again face the threat of a government shutdown.

Shibbir Ahmed | United Nations, New York — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for sweeping reforms to global institutions, arguing that the international system must adapt to a rapidly changing, increasingly multipolar world.

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek on Tuesday, Guterres said global power relations were changing while many multilateral institutions continued to reflect the geopolitical realities of 1945.

“We must reform our multilateral institutions, including the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system, to reflect today’s realities,” Guterres said, calling for greater representation and influence for developing countries in order to build a fairer global order.

Guterres said the world was becoming increasingly multipolar and argued that the trend should be strengthened.

“Multipolarity is a condition for justice in global governance and international relations,” he said, describing it as a foundation for effective multilateralism and a United Nations that serves all countries without double standards.

The UN chief has repeatedly called for reforms to the Security Council and other international institutions to make them more representative of the current distribution of global power.

His remarks in Bishkek also highlighted four areas for stronger international cooperation: global security, development financing, climate action and governance of artificial intelligence.

Guterres’ call comes amid growing geopolitical tensions, conflicts and disputes over the effectiveness of existing international institutions. His message was clear: as global power shifts, the institutions governing international affairs must change with it.

DHAKA — A total of 15,717 General Diaries (GDs) were filed over missing-child incidents across Bangladesh during the first seven months of this year, according to figures presented by the government. However, the figure should not be interpreted as meaning that 15,717 children are currently missing, the government’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday. He disclosed the figures during a press briefing at the Secretariat on the government’s recent activities and developments.

According to the adviser, 15,717 GDs related to missing children were filed from January through July 2026. During the previous seven-month period, from June through December 2025, the number was 13,876.

Dr. Zahed said many children reported missing eventually return home or are found, but families do not always inform police after the child returns. As a result, the number of GDs cannot be used to determine how many children remain missing.

“There is no complete information on exactly how many children have not returned,” he said, emphasizing the difference between missing-child reports and the number of children who remain missing.

Missing-child figures raise questions over case outcomes

The latest figures have renewed questions about how missing-child cases are recorded and followed up after a GD is filed. Recent reports citing Police Headquarters data put the number of missing-child GDs at 15,917 between January and July 2026—more than 75 reports a day, or roughly one report every 20 to 21 minutes.

However, that figure also represents GDs rather than the number of children currently missing. There is no regularly published, consolidated national record showing how many children were rescued, returned home, found elsewhere, remained missing, or became involved in cases of abduction or trafficking.

The difference between the 15,717 figure presented by the government adviser and the 15,917 figure cited in recent Police Headquarters reporting also highlights the need for better coordination and verification of national missing-child data.

‘MUN Alert’ launched to speed up rescue

In January this year, Bangladesh launched the Missing Urgent Notification (MUN Alert) system to help locate and rescue missing and abducted children more quickly. The initiative was launched by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police in cooperation with Amber Alert for Bangladesh.

A 24-hour toll-free hotline, 13219, was also introduced for reporting missing children. The system is designed to allow authorities to quickly verify information and disseminate details such as a missing child’s photograph and last known location.

CID officials have emphasized the importance of the first few hours after a child goes missing, saying that rapid dissemination of verified information can increase the chances of a successful recovery.

Missing does not automatically mean trafficking

The large number of missing-child GDs has also prompted concern over possible child trafficking. Police, however, have said there is currently no evidence establishing a direct link between all of the missing-child GDs and child trafficking. At the same time, authorities acknowledge that trafficking remains a potential risk in individual cases.

Experts have therefore cautioned against treating every missing-child case as an abduction or trafficking case while stressing that potential trafficking risks should be properly investigated.

Need for a coordinated national database

Child-rights advocates and experts have called for a more coordinated national system linking police stations, the CID, the Police Bureau of Investigation, hospitals, morgues and other relevant agencies.

Such a system could track each case from the initial missing-person report through its final outcome—including whether the child was rescued, returned home, found elsewhere, became the subject of an abduction or trafficking investigation, or remained missing.

Without such follow-up information, the number of GDs provides only a partial picture of the country’s missing-child situation. The government’s latest figure therefore highlights a significant concern, but it does not establish how many children are currently missing in Bangladesh. The key challenge now is to determine what happened after each of those thousands of reports—and to ensure that every missing child is accounted for.

Shibbir Ahmed: The greatest asset of an independent nation is its children. Today’s children are not merely the sons and daughters of individual families—they are tomorrow’s citizens, workforce, leaders, and the future of the state. The dreams that take shape in a child’s eyes are, in many ways, the first sketches of a nation’s future.

But when those very children begin disappearing one after another, the question is no longer limited to an individual family. It becomes a question of national security, social responsibility, and our collective conscience.

In Bangladesh, the growing number of general diaries, or G.D.s, filed over missing children has recently created renewed concern. According to data from Police Headquarters cited in recent reports, 15,917 G.D.s concerning missing children were filed across the country during the first seven months of 2026. That works out to an average of more than 75 reports a day, or roughly one missing-child report every 20 to 21 minutes.

The figure is undoubtedly alarming. But one important distinction must be made: **15,917 is the number of missing-child-related G.D.s, not the number of children who are necessarily still missing.** It would be wrong to interpret the figure as proof that 15,917 children remain missing.

Government and police officials have acknowledged that a G.D. does not necessarily tell us the final outcome of a case. Many children return home after going missing, but their families may not go back to the police station to report the child’s return or formally update the original G.D. As a result, a missing-child case may remain in police records even after the child has returned home. Recent reporting has also highlighted the absence of a regularly published, consolidated national record showing how many children were rescued, returned home, remained missing, or became victims of other crimes. And this is where the deepest part of the crisis lies.

The more important question is not simply how many children have gone missing—but how many have returned, and how many have not?

If the state does not have an accurate, coordinated and regularly updated answer to that question, then the true picture of the missing-child crisis remains unclear. And when a crisis cannot be accurately measured, it becomes extremely difficult to design an effective national strategy to confront it.

A child who disappears leaves behind a family whose suffering cannot be measured by statistics. A mother stands outside a police station holding a photograph of her child. A father searches street after street. Every unfamiliar phone call becomes a moment of hope—and sometimes a source of unbearable fear. The slightest sound at the door can make a parent think: perhaps my child has finally come home. Days pass. Nights pass. The waiting remains. There is no statistic capable of measuring such waiting.

Does Missing Always Mean Abduction?

Every missing-child case is not the same. A child may become separated from family members in a crowded fair, shopping center, railway station or bus terminal. A teenager may leave home voluntarily because of family conflict, hurt feelings, misunderstanding or excessive discipline. In other cases, however, serious crimes such as abduction or trafficking may be involved.

Therefore, it would be wrong to place every missing-child case in the same category. But it would be equally dangerous to dismiss a case as ordinary at the outset.

When a child moves beyond the immediate control of the family, the first few hours can be critical. Information about where the child went, whom the child contacted, which route the child took, or who may have come into contact with the child needs to be collected and analyzed as quickly as possible.

Technology can be one of the state’s most powerful tools in this effort. CCTV footage, mobile communication data, digital investigation, transportation surveillance, and the coordinated use of government databases can significantly improve the chances of locating a missing child. But technology can only be effective when information is connected.

Bangladesh has already taken a step in this direction. Police launched **MUN Alert—Missing Urgent Notification—on January 13, 2026**, to help identify and recover missing or abducted children more quickly. The system allows cases to be reported around the clock and facilitates the rapid dissemination of information, including a child’s photograph and last known location. Police have said the system is intended to verify reports, assess risk and issue emergency alerts when necessary. However, it has not yet been fully integrated with the missing-child information maintained at individual police stations. That gap must be closed.

The Dark World of Trafficking

One of the most frightening possibilities surrounding missing children is human trafficking. Bangladesh has long faced serious trafficking risks, and women and children remain particularly vulnerable. The U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons reporting has documented trafficking investigations and continuing challenges in Bangladesh, while UNICEF has highlighted the country’s position as a source, transit and destination country for trafficking in women and children.

Poverty, family instability, social vulnerability, child marriage, unsafe migration and displacement can all increase a child’s exposure to exploitation. A trafficker does not always need an elaborate scheme to lure a child. A mobile phone, a small amount of money, a promise of employment, food, or even the trust of a familiar person can become the beginning of a trap.

And once a child falls under the control of a criminal network, finding that child can become far more difficult. But there is another important point that must not be ignored: missing does not automatically mean trafficking.

Police have said there is currently no evidence establishing a direct link between all of the 15,917 missing-child-related G.D.s and child trafficking. At the same time, the possibility of trafficking cannot simply be dismissed in individual cases.

This distinction matters. If we label every missing child a trafficking victim without evidence, we distort the facts. But if we fail to investigate trafficking as a possible explanation in appropriate cases, we may allow serious crimes to disappear behind incomplete records.

Child trafficking is not merely a story about crossing international borders. Children can also face different forms of exploitation within the country itself. Therefore, missing-child cases should not be viewed merely as isolated law-and-order incidents. They must also be examined in the broader context of human trafficking, child labor, sexual exploitation, organized begging and other forms of criminal exploitation.

The Greatest Weakness—Fragmented Information

One of the most urgent steps Bangladesh needs is a genuinely integrated national information system for missing children. The moment a child is reported missing, essential information—including the child’s name, age, photograph, physical description, last known location, clothing, family contact information and circumstances surrounding the disappearance—should be securely recorded in a centralized system.

When the child is found or returns home, that information should be updated immediately in the same system. Police, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Police Bureau of Investigation, Border Guard Bangladesh, hospitals, morgues, social services and other relevant child-protection institutions should have an effective mechanism for sharing appropriate information.

This is not merely a technological issue. It is an issue of governance. A missing-child case should have a beginning, a middle and an end. It should not simply become a G.D. number sitting in a police register.

The final outcome should be recorded—whether the child was rescued, returned home independently, found elsewhere, abducted, identified as a trafficking victim, or remains missing. Experts have specifically called for such an outcome-based system, including better coordination among police records, hospitals, morgues and other relevant institutions.

At the same time, children’s privacy and personal information must be protected. Technology should be used to find a missing child—not to expose that child to another danger. A system designed to protect children must therefore include strong safeguards for their identity and personal data.

Faster Alerts, Faster Rescue

Bangladesh needs an even stronger mechanism for rapidly alerting the public when a child goes missing. Several countries use emergency child-alert systems that can quickly distribute a missing child’s photograph and identifying information to large numbers of people when authorities determine that an emergency alert is warranted.

Bangladesh has already begun moving in that direction through MUN Alert. The next step should be to make the system broader, faster and better integrated with existing police, child-protection and emergency-response mechanisms.

A missing child’s photograph circulating on social media should not depend solely on the desperate efforts of family members. Wherever appropriate, verified information should become part of a coordinated official response.

The media also has an important role to play. But that role must be exercised responsibly. Publishing a child’s photograph, identity or family information must never expose the child to further danger. News organizations need clear guidelines to ensure that efforts to locate a child do not compromise the child’s safety, dignity or future.

Families Cannot Escape Responsibility Either

The state carries the greatest responsibility—but families and society also have important roles to play. In crowded fairs, markets, railway stations, bus terminals or large public gatherings, young children should never be allowed to disappear from their guardians’ sight, even for a moment. Children should have access to emergency contact information and should receive age-appropriate safety education.

For adolescents, however, safety means more than supervision. It also means communication. Why does a teenager want to leave home? Why does he or she feel afraid to speak with parents? Why can a young person not share personal problems with family members? These questions must be addressed.

Only discipline cannot keep a child safe. Trust, friendship, communication and emotional support are also essential parts of child safety.

The State Must Know Who Came Home—and Who Did Not

One of the most important reforms Bangladesh can undertake is the establishment of a complete missing-to-recovery information cycle. A GD is the beginning. It cannot be the end. After a child goes missing, the system should record the progress of the search, the actions taken by investigators, whether the child has been found, how the child was found and, where necessary, what protection, counseling or rehabilitation was provided afterward.

Such a system would not only improve statistical transparency. It would also make it possible to identify where children are most frequently reported missing, which age groups are most vulnerable, which regions face greater risks and what circumstances repeatedly appear in these cases.

There is another issue that cannot be ignored: unidentified bodies. If a missing child’s body is later recovered but the identity cannot be established, and there is no effective system linking missing-child records with unidentified-body records from hospitals and morgues, a family’s search may remain unresolved for years. Experts have therefore called for compatible databases and a national-level matching mechanism. Then the state would not merely count numbers. It would see the human beings behind those numbers.

The Ultimate Measure of Development Is the Safety of Children

A nation’s development cannot be measured simply by the number of bridges, roads, flyovers, skyscrapers or the size of its GDP. One important measure of how developed a state truly is lies in how safely it can raise its children. For a mother who cannot send her child to school without fear, for a father who remains anxious every moment his child is away from home, or for a family that spends day after day waiting for reliable information after a child disappears—the meaning of development is different.

For them, development means their child will return home before evening. Development means hearing a familiar little hand knock on the door after school. Development means never having to stand outside a police station holding a photograph of their child. The figure of 15,917 missing-child-related G.D.s is alarming enough to demand our attention. But more than alarming us, it should force us to ask harder questions.

Because behind every G.D. is the possibility of a child in distress, a family in anguish, a story that remains unfinished and a future placed at risk. We must not limit the discussion to numbers.

We must ask How many children have returned? How many have not? Where did they disappear? Why did they disappear? And, most importantly— How prepared is the state to bring them home? Protecting Bangladesh’s future generation is not an act of charity. It is a fundamental responsibility of the state. A child who goes missing is not merely someone’s son or daughter. That child belongs to Bangladesh.

Protecting that child’s safe childhood means protecting the future of Bangladesh. Our children must never become mere statistics of disappearance. They must return to their homes, reclaim their childhoods, and allow Bangladesh to reclaim its future.

—The author is a journalist based in Jackson Heights, New York.

BUENOS AIRES — Argentina captain Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing a definitive close to a legendary 21-year career with La Albiceleste. The 39-year-old icon shared the emotional news via social media, revealing that he originally penned his farewell letter on July 21—just two days after Argentina’s heartbreaking 1–0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. While he initially contemplated making the announcement then, he delayed the public statement following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, in August.

“After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team,” Messi wrote. “It was a decision that hurt—and still hurts deep down—but I understand that the time has come. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.”

A Storied Legacy of Redemption and Glory

Messi walks away as a national hero and the heartbeat of modern Argentine football. After years of near-misses and heavy scrutiny early in his career—which famously included a brief, short-lived international retirement in 2016—Messi authored one of the greatest redemption arcs in sports history.

He finishes his international career holding virtually every major record for his country, racking up 125 goals in 207 record-breaking appearances. His major trophy haul includes the 2022 FIFA World Cup, back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and an Olympic gold medal in 2008.

His crowning achievement came in Qatar in 2022, when he dragged Argentina to global glory, cementing his status alongside Diego Maradona. Even in his final international tournament this past summer, Messi dazzled with eight goals and four assists, guiding the defending champions all the way to the World Cup final before falling narrowly to Spain.

“Now I’ll Be One of You”

In his farewell message, Messi expressed profound gratitude to the fans, his family, and his teammates who shared the journey with him.

“Thank you for all the love during these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the inside,” Messi said. “Now I’ll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones. … Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina!”

With his international chapter officially closed, Messi will turn his full focus toward his club career with Inter Miami in MLS, leaving the football world to reflect on the departure of one of the greatest artists the sport has ever seen.

Mashiur Rahman Majumdar: Whenever the issue of Bangladeshi expatriates comes up, the discussion usually begins with remittances. Yet an expatriate is not merely someone who sends foreign currency home. He or she is a Bangladeshi citizen. Even while living abroad, an expatriate has the right to citizenship, the right to receive government services and the right to seek state assistance when necessary. It is from this perspective that passport, National Identity Card (NID) and other consular services for expatriate Bangladeshis should be viewed.

In recent times, the government has emphasized making passport and NID services for expatriates faster, easier, more transparent and technology-driven. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has said in Parliament that Bangladeshi missions where e-passport services have been introduced provide online applications, biometric enrolment at convenient times and facilities to track application progress. Applicants are also notified by SMS or email when their passports are ready. These are undoubtedly positive initiatives. But the question is: Is launching a service the same as making that service genuinely accessible?

At present, voter registration and NID services are available through 27 Bangladeshi missions in 17 countries. The government plans to gradually expand these services to 41 countries. This means that although important steps have been taken, NID-related services are still not equally accessible to Bangladeshis living in every part of the world.

The same question arises in the case of passports. When the passport of a Bangladeshi living abroad expires, the person has to depend on the relevant embassy or consulate. Although applications can be submitted online, applicants still have to appear at the mission at a designated time for biometric enrolment. The passport itself is issued by the Department of Immigration and Passports in Dhaka. Therefore, if coordination between overseas missions and the relevant authorities in Bangladesh is not effective, the waiting time for applicants may increase.

Let us take the United States as an example. According to the current information provided by the Bangladesh Consulate General in New York, applicants can apply online for e-passports, pay the required fees, schedule appointments and complete biometric enrolment. The necessary documents are also clearly listed. Similarly, an online application and appointment system is available for NID services.

This is an important step toward digital public services. But from an expatriate’s perspective, the quality of a service cannot be measured simply by whether an online application system exists. The real question is: How fast, accurate, predictable and hassle-free is the entire process from application to service delivery?

If an expatriate has to repeatedly visit an embassy or consulate after applying online to correct information, verify documents, complete biometric procedures, collect a passport or resolve an NID-related problem, then questions will inevitably remain about how much of the original purpose of digital services has actually been achieved.

Another important issue is coordination among government agencies. Passport, NID, birth registration, visa services and document authentication often involve multiple government institutions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that, under its action plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year, steps are being taken to establish an online system involving relevant agencies to make verification of passport, visa and birth and death registration information easier.

This is where the next major test of digital public services lies. Simply introducing online forms does not make a service fully digital. What is needed is interoperability among government agencies, faster verification, a system that prevents citizens from repeatedly submitting the same information, and clear accountability for applicants.

The same reality applies to NID services. An identity card is an extremely important document for any citizen. It may be required for voter registration, banking, property-related matters, government services and various administrative procedures when returning to Bangladesh. If an expatriate finds an error in their NID or needs to correct personal information, the process for resolving the issue should also be made as simple as possible.

Distance is another major challenge for expatriates seeking government services. Not all expatriates live near capitals or major cities. In many countries, Bangladeshi citizens are spread across vast geographical areas, sometimes hundreds of miles away from their nearest embassy or consulate. Mobile consular camps can therefore be an effective solution.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has said that 86 Bangladeshi missions in 63 countries regularly organize mobile consular camps. These camps provide passport and other consular services and bring services closer to expatriates living far from embassies and consulates. The locations, dates and times of such camps are announced in advance.

This initiative should be expanded and organized more regularly. Particularly in countries with large Bangladeshi communities spread across wide geographical areas, a fixed annual calendar for mobile consular services could save expatriates both time and money.

But providing services alone is not enough. Prompt resolution of complaints is equally important. The government has said that online complaint management systems are in place at Bangladeshi missions and that plans are underway to appoint designated officials to ensure complaints are resolved quickly.

This raises several important questions. How long should an expatriate have to wait for a response after filing a complaint? How will the applicant track the progress of the complaint? If an application is stuck at a government office, who will inform the applicant? And if a service is not delivered within the stipulated time, to whom can the citizen hold the authorities accountable?

Improving expatriate services requires institutional answers to these questions. When an expatriate wants to renew a passport, obtain an NID or authenticate a document, they are not asking for special treatment. They are seeking government services as a matter of their citizenship rights.

Therefore, expatriate services cannot be treated merely as an administrative responsibility. They must be viewed as part of citizens’ rights and the state’s responsibility. Even while living abroad, Bangladeshi citizens maintain an administrative and civic relationship with their country. The easier, more transparent and more reliable that relationship becomes, the stronger their trust in the state will be.

A change in mindset is also necessary. Expatriates should not be viewed merely as people who send remittances. They are contributors to the national economy, potential investors, responsible members of families and representatives of Bangladesh on foreign soil.

That is why even a minor administrative complication involving passport or NID services can become a major burden for an expatriate. Travelling long distances to an embassy, taking time off from work, spending money on transportation or repeatedly contacting authorities to resolve a simple problem all carry real costs for expatriates.

The government’s recent initiatives must therefore translate into tangible results. Online applications, biometric enrolment, application tracking, e-apostille, online complaint management and mobile consular camps should all be brought under an integrated service framework.

Most importantly, the quality of services should be measured from the perspective of expatriates’ actual experiences. The number of applications received is less important than the number of applications resolved on time. The number of missions offering a service is less important than how many citizens can actually access that service easily.

If passport and NID services for expatriates can truly be made faster, easier, more transparent and technology-driven, it will be more than an administrative reform. It will strengthen the relationship between the state and its citizens abroad.

Expatriates send money home for the country. But the state needs more than their money—it needs their trust. And trust is built not through promises, but through effective services. It is therefore time to ask the question more directly: How far have we actually progressed in providing passport and NID services to expatriates, and how much of what has been promised has reached them in reality?

The answer is important not only for the government but for every level of the state service system. An expatriate’s money is an asset to the country, but an expatriate’s trust is an equally valuable national asset. Protecting that trust requires not only promises but also meaningful improvements in the quality of services delivered to Bangladeshis living abroad.

— Journalist, Jackson Heights, New York

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — The United States is preparing to intensify economic pressure on Iran with a new campaign of weekly secondary sanctions, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, as military tensions between Washington and Tehran sharply escalated.

Bessent told Reuters that the U.S. Treasury Department is expected to announce new secondary sanctions every week, beginning with measures targeting banks and financial institutions that help Iran maintain access to international markets.

The planned measures are designed to further restrict Iran’s access to the global financial system and increase pressure on institutions and countries that continue doing business with Tehran. The announcement comes as the United States and Iran have entered their most serious period of renewed hostilities in weeks.

U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island on Sunday after American forces identified what U.S. officials said were preparations by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran responded by launching missiles toward U.S. military bases in Jordan, according to U.S. and Iranian officials. The attacks marked the first direct exchange of fire between the two sides in about a month. President Donald Trump on Monday warned that the United States would respond forcefully to Iran’s attacks. The latest escalation has raised concerns about a wider regional conflict, particularly because of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.

Financial Pressure on Iran

The planned sanctions would expand the use of so-called secondary sanctions, which can penalize foreign companies, banks and other institutions that conduct certain business with Iran even when those entities are not based in the United States.

Bessent said the campaign would initially focus on banks and could increasingly target institutions that help Iran move money through the international financial system. The Treasury secretary’s announcement represents a further expansion of the administration’s economic campaign against Tehran.

The United States has already broadened the range of Iranian economic activities that could expose foreign businesses to secondary sanctions, including sectors such as digital assets, gold, technology, aviation and shipping.

Last week, the Treasury Department launched what it described as an unprecedented campaign against Iranian financial networks, targeting channels used by Tehran to generate revenue, evade sanctions and finance activities opposed by Washington.

Military Tensions Add to Economic Pressure

The new sanctions strategy comes as diplomatic and military tensions continue to worsen. The U.S. military said its strike on Larak Island was aimed at preventing Iran from deploying sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has rejected the U.S. justification and warned that it would respond to further attacks.

Following the Iranian missile launches toward U.S. forces in Jordan, Trump said the United States would respond strongly. Reuters reported that the exchange of attacks represents a renewed escalation after a period in which the two sides had avoided direct military confrontation.

The conflict has also affected global energy markets. Brent crude oil futures settled more than 2.5% higher on Monday after the latest U.S.-Iran military exchanges, reflecting renewed concerns over the security of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Pressure on Iran’s Financial Lifelines

The Trump administration has increasingly focused on Iran’s financial networks as part of its broader strategy to weaken Tehran’s ability to fund its government, military and regional activities.

The planned weekly sanctions would represent a significant escalation because foreign financial institutions could face increasing pressure to choose between maintaining business relationships with Iran and retaining access to the U.S.-dominated international financial system.

For Iran, the measures could further complicate access to foreign currency, international banking services and overseas trade. For the United States and its allies, however, the strategy carries its own risks, particularly if increased economic pressure contributes to further military escalation or disruption of global energy supplies.

With the United States preparing additional sanctions and military tensions rising, the coming days could determine whether the latest confrontation remains limited or develops into a broader regional crisis.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — President Donald Trump on Monday announced new agreements with nine pharmaceutical manufacturers aimed at lowering prescription drug prices for Americans, expanding his administration’s effort to tie U.S. drug prices to the lower prices paid in other developed countries.

The White House said the agreements bring the total number of pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in the administration’s Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) drug-pricing program to 26, covering about 89% of the branded-drug market.

The nine companies joining the latest agreements are Alcon, Astellas Pharma, BeOne Medicines, BridgeBio, CSL, Kyowa Kirin, Sun Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals and UCB.

Under the agreements, the companies will provide MFN pricing to state Medicaid programs across the United States on eligible medicines. The White House said the deals cover drugs used to treat a range of serious and chronic conditions, including hemophilia, Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, liver disease, skin conditions and cancer.

The administration’s MFN strategy seeks to align prices paid in the United States with the lowest prices paid by comparable developed nations.

$19.6 Billion U.S. Manufacturing Investment

The new agreements also include commitments to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States. According to the White House, the nine companies have collectively committed to invest at least $19.6 billion in U.S. manufacturing in the near term.

Several companies have additionally agreed to provide active pharmaceutical ingredients to the federal government’s Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve, which is intended to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign sources.

UCB, for example, will contribute 163 tons of levetiracetam, a drug used to control and prevent seizures. Sun Pharma will contribute supplies of the antibiotics clindamycin and doxycycline, while Teva will provide metronidazole and amlodipine. Astellas will contribute tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant used to help prevent organ rejection following transplants.

Administration Projects Major Savings

The White House says patients have already saved more than $700 million through TrumpRx, the administration’s prescription-drug discount platform, since its launch in February.

The administration also says more than 500,000 seniors have saved a combined $216 million since July through a program offering certain GLP-1 obesity medicines for $50 a month to seniors without coverage for those drugs.

The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers estimates that the administration’s broader MFN agreements could generate approximately $600 billion in savings over the next decade. That figure is an administration estimate rather than an independently verified projection.

Part of Trump’s Broader Drug-Pricing Push

Trump ordered his administration in May 2025 to pursue Most-Favored-Nation pricing for prescription medicines, seeking to bring U.S. prices closer to those paid in other developed countries.

The administration subsequently reached agreements with major pharmaceutical manufacturers, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi and others.

Trump launched TrumpRx.gov in February 2026 as part of the administration’s effort to make lower-priced medicines available directly to American consumers through participating manufacturers and pharmacies.

Reuters reported Monday that the latest agreements include a mix of international pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotechnology firms, expanding the program beyond the large drugmakers that participated in earlier rounds.

The new agreements come as prescription-drug affordability remains a major issue for American consumers and as the Trump administration prepares for the November midterm elections.

The White House is also calling on Congress to advance what it describes as the “Great Healthcare Plan,” which the administration says would seek to lower drug prices and insurance premiums while increasing price transparency.

For Americans, the practical impact of Monday’s agreements will depend on which medicines receive the new pricing arrangements, when the lower prices take effect and how the discounts are implemented through Medicaid and participating drug programs. The White House announcement marks the latest and one of the largest expansions of Trump’s MFN drug-pricing initiative since it began in 2025.