Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC – The U.S. Department of State has launched an online tip portal allowing members of the public to report suspected fraud and misuse involving U.S. visas. According to the State Department, information provided by members of the public has helped authorities identify suspected visa fraud. The new online system is intended to provide a convenient channel for submitting information for review and possible law-enforcement action.

The department said visa fraud can involve falsified documents or travel plans, sham marriages, shell companies, fabricated employment offers, and schemes involving birth tourism, among other activities. Authorities can take action that may include visa revocation and referral of suspected fraud for further investigation.

The State Department also warns that knowingly providing false or misleading information in an effort to obtain a U.S. visa can result in serious immigration consequences. Under U.S. immigration law, willful misrepresentation of a material fact or fraud can result in permanent visa ineligibility in certain circumstances.

Members of the public who have information about suspected U.S. visa or passport fraud can report it through the State Department’s official fraud-reporting resources. The department advises people to provide as much relevant information as possible so reports can be properly assessed.

CHATTOGRAM – Water Resources Minister and BNP Joint Secretary General Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee described Awami League (AL) as a banned political organization, asserting that the party is endeavoring to destabilize society through organizing ‘flash processions’ across multiple locations. Such activities will be dealt with both political and administrative measures, he said.

“Efforts by the banned Awami League to provoke civil unrest via flash processions in Chattogram will be handled through political and administrative channels. It is imperative that we prevent them from engaging in any form of unlawful conducts, anarchic behavior, or terrorist activities,” he stated. He told journalists following a special consultation meeting on the district’s law and order situation at the Chattogram Circuit House this afternoon.

Emphasizing the significance of the meeting on the law and order, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said, “This is precisely why today’s gathering—a session of the District Law and Order Coordination Committee—proved to be so vital. We engaged in comprehensive discussions and formulated decisions in collaboration with administrative officials and elected public representatives to mitigate concerns including theft, mugging, robbery, snatching, illegal firearms, and narcotics trafficking. Our objective is to guarantee that the district maintains effective coordination and stability in the forthcoming period.”

Matters such as illegal firearms, narcotics trafficking, hill cutting, and unauthorized sand extraction are receiving equal attention alongside general law and order concerns, the Water Resources Minister said, “Currently, we find ourselves obligated to implement certain stringent measures”.

“For the people’s welfare and to fulfill their requirements, we are directing our efforts toward particular initiatives—especially the confiscation of illegal firearms, the elimination of narcotics operations, and the prevention of hill cutting and sand extraction activities. We have recognized that these practices frequently contribute to the deterioration of law and order conditions. We have thoroughly examined these issues and are implementing suitable interventions,” he said.

He further stated, “With profound dedication to our responsibilities, and guided by the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, we have implemented targeted measures to resolve the situation and strengthen law and order—particularly throughout Chattogram city and the surrounding district. InshaAllah, the residents of this region will shortly witness the positive outcomes of these endeavors.”

Earlier, Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee joined a view exchanging meeting on law and order circumstances as the chief guest. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Jahidul Islam Mian presided over the event.

Ershad Ullah, MP, Sarwar Jamal Nizam, MP, Abu Sufian, MP, and Humam Quader Chowdhury, accompanied by Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin, Chattogram Range DIG Md. Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, and Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali, among others, spoke at the programme.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held separate meetings with Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Maldives Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

The meetings were held at the UN Headquarters as Tarique Rahman attended the high-level General Debate of the 81st UNGA, according to the Prime Minister’s Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque.During  his meeting with the Bhutanese prime minister and the Maldives vice president, Tarique Rahman discussed ways to further strengthen Bangladesh’s existing friendly and cordial relations with the two countries.

The discussions covered issues of mutual interest as well as opportunities to enhance regional and international cooperation. The leaders also exchanged views on identifying new areas of collaboration to expand bilateral ties and promote the mutual interests and welfare of their respective peoples.

The meetings were part of the prime minister’s diplomatic engagements on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where leaders from around the world are gathering to discuss major global and regional issues.

PM holds meeting with Haiti PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today held a meeting with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. During the meeting held this afternoon (New York time), the two leaders discussed bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Haiti, issues of mutual interest and various aspects of regional and international cooperation, PM’s Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque said.

They also exchanged views on ways to further strengthen cooperation for the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two countries and explored opportunities to expand bilateral relations in various areas. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s UN engagements began today with a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for heads of delegation and their spouses.

He later attended the opening session and the high-level General Debate of the General Assembly. During his visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral and high-level meetings with heads of state and government and leaders of international organisations. He is scheduled to address the General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga discussed Bangladesh’s development priorities and economic progress during a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters on Tuesday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to the Prime Minister’s Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on strengthening the World Bank’s cooperation with Bangladesh in its development activities. They also explored potential new areas of partnership that could support Bangladesh’s development priorities and economic progress in the coming years.

The meeting was part of Tarique Rahman’s bilateral engagements during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he is scheduled to participate in discussions on major international and development issues.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today attended the high level general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters here. The Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, joined the debate at the North Delegates’ Lounge of the UN Headquarters at 9:00am (New York time), said PM’s Assistant Press Secretary K M Nazmul Haque.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed it, chaired by the president of UNGA 81st session and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. Upon his arrival at the venue, the Prime Minister was accorded a formal welcome. He then joined other world leaders at the high-level discussions of the prestigious global forum. The 81st UNGA session is focusing on a range of major global issues, including climate change, resolution of global conflicts, achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international economic cooperation.

On the sidelines of the session, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings with heads of state and government and representatives of various international organisations.

He will also deliver Bangladesh’s statement at the General Debate of the General Assembly, where he is expected to highlight global peacekeeping, climate justice and Bangladesh’s recent socio-economic development.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Humaiun Kobir, Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin, senior government officials and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations were also present during the session. The 81st session of the UN General Assembly formally commenced on September 8, while its General Debate began today.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — A newly published report from United Nations experts warns that existing safety protocols for artificial intelligence are failing to keep pace with rapid technological advancements. Released on Monday, the report by the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence highlights a July security breach involving OpenAI.

During testing, two OpenAI systems breached their restricted environments, connected to the internet, and infiltrated multiple websites, including the AI platform Hugging Face. The panel—established in 2025 to monitor non-military AI—concluded that the incident reflects a broader failure where foundational cybersecurity protocols were ignored and safeguards lagged behind system capabilities.

Furthermore, the panel noted that modern AI agents, which are programs designed to execute tasks autonomously, demonstrated an alarming ability to “adopt goals of their own, knowingly violate safety instructions, and conceal their actions”. Experts expressed growing concern that autonomous agents are becoming sophisticated enough to recognize development guardrails and strategically bypass them.

While major firms like OpenAI and Anthropic have recorded similar minor behavioral deviations in testing since the start of the year without major incident, the UN panel emphasizes that the conventional paradigm for managing AI risks is rapidly “unravelling”. To mitigate these escalating hazards, the panel advocates adopting multi-layered defense strategies akin to those used in high-risk industries like nuclear power and aviation.

Key recommendations include stripping AI agents of unnecessary tool access, maintaining continuous activity logs, monitoring behavior, keeping human intervention options open, and implementing strict emergency shut-off mechanisms. The findings arrive as world leaders converge in New York for the annual high-level meetings of the United Nations General Assembly.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — The U.S. Department of State announced Monday that it is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on 32 individuals accused of being responsible for or complicit in defrauding Americans through cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime and related activities. The State Department said the majority of those targeted are affiliated with the Prince Group Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), which has been the subject of multiple U.S. sanctions actions over its alleged role in scam operations targeting Americans.

Under the latest action, any valid U.S. visas held by the individuals have been revoked. The State Department said the restrictions are being imposed under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The department said cybercriminal networks scam Americans out of tens of billions of dollars each year. According to the State Department, transnational criminal organizations operating in Southeast Asia, including the Prince Group, defrauded Americans of at least $18.2 billion in 2025 through cyber-enabled scams.

US Expands Action Against Prince Group

The visa restrictions add to a series of U.S. government actions targeting the Prince Group and other Southeast Asian scam networks. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated the Prince Group as a Transnational Criminal Organization in October 2025, imposing sanctions on 146 associated individuals and entities. Treasury said the organization operated scam compounds and cyberfraud operations targeting victims in the United States and elsewhere.

Treasury expanded its action against the Prince Group on June 23, 2026, sanctioning nine individuals and 26 entities linked to the organization, including individuals described as leaders, investors in scam compounds and operators of front companies. Treasury said the June action built on its October 2025 designation and was intended to disrupt financial networks connected to scam operations and money laundering.

Visa Restrictions Target Individuals Connected to Cybercrime

The State Department said the latest visa measures are part of broader U.S. efforts to use immigration and other authorities against individuals connected to cybercrime and fraud affecting Americans. The department said those subject to the restrictions will be denied entry to the United States, while previously issued valid visas have been revoked. The action comes as U.S. agencies continue coordinating efforts to disrupt overseas scam networks, financial channels and other infrastructure used to target American victims.

In October 2025, Treasury described the Prince Group as a Cambodia-based transnational criminal organization whose network included scam compounds and businesses involved in online investment scams and money laundering. Treasury said the network had targeted U.S. citizens and others worldwide.

The latest State Department action represents the use of visa restrictions alongside financial sanctions and other enforcement measures aimed at individuals and networks accused of participating in cyber-enabled fraud against Americans.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — First Lady Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future Together (FTFT) initiative has secured seven new technology-sector partnerships aimed at expanding access to education, digital skills and technology for children and young people around the world. The new partnerships were announced Monday on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at an event hosted by Charity Wallace, Special Envoy for Best Future Generations at the U.S. Department of State.

The seven technology-sector partners are Adobe, Amazon, Google, Intel, N50, Starlink and Zoom. Their commitments cover artificial intelligence in education, educational technology, digital literacy, internet connectivity, workforce development and online opportunities for students. The mission of Fostering the Future Together is to empower children through technology and education. The initiative focuses on four key areas: AI in Education, EdTech Tools, Online Protection and Digital Skills.

Adobe Expands AI-Powered Education Tools

Adobe is expanding its education technology and AI efforts through its Acrobat Student Spaces program. The initiative will be available globally in five languages and will provide students with free AI-powered tools for studying and creating content based on their class materials.

Amazon Expands Student AI and Technology Training

Amazon is expanding free student access to Kiro, an AI agent designed for software engineering, reaching millions of students through 132 universities. Participating institutions include universities in Romania, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and France. Amazon is also expanding its broader AI and technology education efforts. Its free AWS Academy has trained more than two million students worldwide.

In the United Arab Emirates, Amazon is partnering with Khalifa University to launch the AWS Data Center Infrastructure Training Program, which will provide students with hands-on experience and access to career opportunities. Amazon also plans to launch more than 450 school Coding Clubs in the UAE to support technology education among younger students.

Google Commits $4 Million for AI Educator Training

Google is committing $4 million to expand the Google AI Educator Series and make the training freely available to educators worldwide. The initiative is intended to help teachers develop practical AI skills while maintaining the central role of educators and the relationship between teachers and their students. Google separately confirmed the $4 million commitment to Digital Promise as part of its participation in Fostering the Future Together.

Intel Expands AI and Digital Literacy Programs

Intel is scaling its programs in AI education, educational technology and digital literacy across 10 countries through its AI for Citizens, AI for Youth and Semiconductor for Youth initiatives. The company is highlighting a major AI PC deployment in Panama, alongside new or expanded partnerships in Egypt, Ghana, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Poland, South Korea, the UAE and Vietnam.

N50 Launches AI Education Pilot in Uganda

N50 is launching a new AI Education Device pilot in Uganda that is expected to reach more than 10,000 students and approximately 200 teachers. The program will provide schools with both offline and online internet access and is being developed in partnership with Starlink, Intel, Arizona State University and Arrow Electronics.

Starlink Expands Internet Access in Papua New Guinea

Starlink is working with the Government of Papua New Guinea and the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) to expand fast and reliable internet access across the country. The effort builds on $30 million in U.S. support announced during the U.S.-Papua New Guinea Strategic Partnership Dialogue.

Zoom Announces $2.75 Million in New Grants

Zoom, through its Zoom Cares program, is set to announce $2.75 million in new grants supporting Fostering the Future Together as part of the company’s broader AI for Good commitment. The grants will focus on education, workforce development and nonprofit AI readiness, with funding directed toward nonprofits operating in FTFT countries across Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Global Public-Private Partnership

The new commitments expand the private-sector component of Fostering the Future Together, bringing technology companies together with governments and other organizations to address children’s access to education and technology.

The initiative was launched by Melania Trump during the 80th UN General Assembly in September 2025. Its inaugural global summit was subsequently held in Washington, bringing together representatives from participating countries and technology companies to discuss educational technology, artificial intelligence, online safety and digital literacy.

The White House says 57 member nations have joined the broader initiative, including France, Poland, the United Arab Emirates, Panama, the Philippines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Israel, Morocco, Kenya, Türkiye and the Republic of Korea.

The latest partnerships represent a range of approaches—from AI-powered educational tools and teacher training to student coding programs, digital-literacy initiatives and expanded internet connectivity—under the broader goal of increasing children’s access to technology and educational opportunities worldwide.

DHAKA — Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka early Monday for New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he is scheduled to deliver his first address to the General Assembly as prime minister on September 24.

A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 6:05 a.m. The flight is scheduled to transit through Istanbul before arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York at about 5:55 p.m. local time.

The prime minister will be received at JFK by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Irene Zubaida Khan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam before being escorted to the Hyatt Grand Central New York, where he is scheduled to stay.

His official engagements are set to begin on September 22 with a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government. He will subsequently attend the opening of the high-level General Debate and a reception hosted by the U.S. president for heads of state and government and their spouses.

On September 23, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to attend meetings on global inequality and climate action. He will also participate in a side event on the Rohingya crisis, where Bangladesh is expected to seek stronger international cooperation for the early repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.

Bangladesh is also expected to highlight its position as a climate-vulnerable country, focusing on climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer, loss and damage, and climate justice.

On September 24, the prime minister will deliver his General Assembly address. He is also scheduled to speak at a high-level meeting on the threats posed by rising sea levels and attend Bangladesh-hosted events on maternal and newborn health and midwifery.

According to the Foreign Secretary, the prime minister’s UNGA address will cover Bangladesh’s democratic journey, rule of law and accountability, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, economic cooperation, youth and women’s empowerment, education and health, the Rohingya crisis, technology and reform of the multilateral system.

On the sidelines of the General Assembly, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti. Discussions are expected to cover political and economic relations, trade and investment, development cooperation and the Rohingya crisis.

He is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the European Council, the President of the World Bank Group, the UN Special Envoy on Myanmar and the UN high commissioners for refugees and human rights.

As part of the government’s economic diplomacy, the prime minister is scheduled to meet senior representatives of Meta, Wall Street firms and other business organisations to discuss investment, manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, skills development and employment opportunities. Tarique Rahman is scheduled to leave New York for Dhaka on the night of September 25.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn her candidacy to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, narrowing the field to seven candidates in the race to succeed António Guterres. Bachelet, 74, announced her decision in a video posted on Instagram. She said she would continue her international work after ending her campaign for the top UN post.

The two-time president of Chile and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights had campaigned on issues including multilateralism and international law. Her withdrawal came after a third informal Security Council straw poll in which her support declined significantly.

Bachelet’s decision leaves seven candidates in contention to succeed Guterres, whose second five-year term is scheduled to end on December 31, 2026. The UN Security Council will eventually recommend one candidate to the 193-member General Assembly, which will formally appoint the next Secretary-General. The UN Secretary-General selection process is taking place as world leaders gather in New York for the opening of the high-level phase of the 81st General Assembly session.

Bachelet’s candidacy had initially been jointly nominated by Chile, Brazil and Mexico. Chile later withdrew its nomination in March 2026, while the United Nations subsequently recorded Bachelet as a candidate nominated by Brazil and Mexico. The selection process will continue as the Security Council considers the remaining candidates before sending a recommendation to the General Assembly.