বাংলা | Epaper

বাংলা E-Paper 📍 Dhaka 📅 Sunday | 18 October 2026, 2 Kartik 1433 PID registration number 06

HEADLINE

● 17 killed in Kolkata Durga Puja stampede ● Youth must lead effort to build BD for all: PM ● Maha Saptami: The sacred nine plants of Durga Puja ● TupTup Resort manager detained after deadly fire in Cox’s Bazar ● Doctor suspended after smoking during PM’s hospital visit ● Death sentences for 2 Bangladeshis in Saudi a lesson: State minister ● Biman suspends all Riyadh-bound flights indefinitely

BD proposes D-8 reforms to boost intra-bloc trade

Published : Saturday, 17 October, 2026 at 11:46 PM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

Bangladesh has proposed restructuring the Developing Eight (D-8) organisation to make it more effective, while calling for increased trade and investment among member countries and discussions on visa exemptions.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir raised the proposals during a meeting with D-8 Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood in Baghdad, Iraq, on Saturday (October 17), on the sidelines of the 52nd session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers.

According to a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry’s Public Relations Officer Mahmudul Hasan, the meeting discussed several areas of cooperation under the D-8 framework, including expanding trade and investment, contract farming and visa exemptions among member states.

Kabir also proposed restructuring the organisation to make it more effective and meaningful, emphasising the need to make its activities more results-oriented.

The state minister is leading Bangladesh’s delegation to the 52nd OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Baghdad.

-AH

Also read

Ministry working to deliver textbooks on time

Tup tup resort fire: 10 victims yet to be identified

Ansar-VDP chief visits academy to inspect training facilities

Durga Puja Teaches Truth, Justice: Minister

Youth must lead effort to build BD for all: PM

Ishrak leads anti-drug raid, six detained

Army chief returns home after Australia, US visits

Land minister pledges dormitory, auditorium and new buses for Rajshahi Polytechnic

Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], ‍[email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296

🔝