The United States has decided to deport illegal Bangladeshi residents in line with President Donald Trump’s directive. However, the Bangladesh government has urged the US to ensure that its citizens are repatriated respectfully, without any degrading treatment. Before the election, President Trump pledged to deport illegal immigrants from all countries if re-elected. Following this policy, the US has begun deporting undocumented Bangladeshis alongside immigrants from other nations. Washington has already communicated its decision to Dhaka. On Wednesday, an inter-ministerial meeting was held at the Secretariat to discuss the deportation process. The meeting, chaired by Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare. Foreign Secretary Md Jasim Uddin represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to sources, the meeting focused on preparations for receiving deported Bangladeshis. The government will continue diplomatic efforts to ensure a smooth and dignified repatriation process. Bangladesh has agreed to take back its citizens but has strongly urged the US not to deport them in a humiliating manner, such as shackling them, as seen in cases involving Indian deportees. The exact number of undocumented Bangladeshis in the US remains undisclosed.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is set to reduce food aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh by more than half due to a "funding shortfall." Effective April 1, the monthly food ration per refugee will be cut from $12.50 to $6, according to a WFP letter sent to the Bangladesh government on Wednesday. “We have received the letter, and the reduction is expected to take effect in early April,” Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman said.  In response to questions about the reason for the reduction, Mizanur explained that the WFP had cited funding shortages. The cut is expected to directly impact both Rohingya refugees and local communities, he warned. “A reduction in food aid will affect nutrition, health, and security in the camps. If Rohingya refugees seek work outside the camps, the local population will also feel the impact,” the refugee relief commissioner said. izanur said discussions were ongoing with humanitarian agencies and donor countries to address the situation. When asked if the decision was linked to the suspension of US funding, he said: “WFP did not mention it in the letter. However, the United States is the largest donor, and its funding freeze has certainly had an effect.” While the US suspended nearly all development funding for 90 days, emergency food aid was initially said to be exempt. Since the Rohingya crisis erupted in August 2017, the US has provided over $2.5 billion in aid, including more than $2.1 billion for Bangladesh, according to the US State Department. On Jan 26, the Chief Advisor’s Office, or CAO, said the funding freeze ordered by US President Donald Trump would not apply to life-saving food and nutrition aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. However, Mizanur said UN agencies appeared to have received no clear directive on the matter and had taken precautionary measures in response. “Of the $12.50 per person, $12 goes directly into refugee accounts while 50 cents is used for rice fortification,” he said. WFP had previously reduced food support from $12 to $10 in March 2023, then to $8 in May. Mizanur confirmed that in June 2024, the assistance was set to rise back to $12, with the 50 cents for rice fortification included.

Officials from the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) have convened to discuss the distribution of water from shared rivers between India and Bangladesh amid ongoing tensions. The two-day meeting began on Thursday in Kolkata, with Mohammad Abul Hossen leading the 11-member Bangladesh delegation. The Indian team is headed by Sharad Chandra, the Commissioner for Flood Management in India. Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan said: “It’s a regular JRC meeting, held between Bangladesh and India in turns. According to that, it’s being held in Kolkata this time.” “[The meeting will discuss] progress in the ongoing activities between us and advancing work in different locations,” he added. After the fall of the Awami League regime on Aug 5 in the face of the mass uprising, Muhammad Yunus took over as chief advisor of the interim government. As Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina fled to India, several senior leaders of the party were arrested, but most of them remain in hiding. Meanwhile, the interim government moved to put Hasina and her accomplices on trial at the International Crimes Tribunal on charges of “mass killings” carried out in their effort to thwart the movement by students and mass people. Hasina, who is still in India, has multiple arrest warrants against her. On December 23, the interim government sent a "diplomatic letter" to its Indian counterpart requesting the return of Hasina to Bangladesh under an "extradition deal." Hasina’s departure from Bangladesh has strained relations between the neighboring countries, with the interim government accusing her of attempting to "destabilize" the India-Bangladesh relationship. Additionally, the interim government has blamed the Indian media for spreading "falsehoods and misinformation." In contrast, the Indian government has expressed concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh and has urged the country to take necessary steps to ensure their security. Amid these tensions, both governments have summoned diplomats to address border-related issues and Hasina’s statements. The JRC meeting is being viewed as a critical step in normalizing bilateral relations. Meanwhile, a Bangladeshi team recently visited the Farakka Barrage area as part of a routine gauging trip to assess whether India is adhering to the water-sharing provisions of the Ganga Treaty. Nazmul explained, “For instance, border operations require coordination between BGB and BSF. If we need to work within 150 meters [of the zero point], we must seek mutual consent. Some of these issues are being addressed through ongoing discussions.” He further highlighted that similar issues had been successfully resolved in the past while working on the Feni River. Some matters are currently being handled by the JRC’s "lower-level" teams. “Our technical committee is one step above that, followed by a secretary-level committee, and ultimately, a ministerial advisory committee. Therefore, we can say this is still in its very initial stages,” he noted.