bangladesh
PM Hasina vows to implement SDG-3
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said Bangladesh remains committed to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals including SDG-3 despite the challenges posed by the covid pandemic, Ukraine war and global crisis.
The prime minister said this when former Prime Minister of New Zealand and co-chair of the Chatham House Commission Helen Clark called on her at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka today.
After the meeting, prime minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters.
Read more: PM returns home after 15-day foreign visit
Hasina said that her government has been working to implement the national health Strategic Plan 2011-2030 aimed at achieving the target.
During the call on, the PM briefed Clark about the steps of her government for further development of pharmaceuticals industries.
She pointed out Bangladesh’s successes in pharmacutcals sector, noting it is now exporting pharmaceutical products to 100 countries.
Read more: Blair calls on PM at Claridge's, offers help to attract investment
PM Hasina mentioned that the government has given emphasis on research on producing Covid and other vaccines in the country, while a vaccine manufacturing plant is being set up at Gopalganj with the technical support of the US.
In reply, Clark said, Bangladesh can be an exporter of special medicines like Covid vaccines.
Mentioning her upcoming partciapation at the UNGA in Sepetember next, Hasina said, she looks forward to attending the high level meeting on Universal Health Coverage and other public issues in New York.
Read more: PM Hasina wants diversified Commonwealth observers for next election in Bangladesh
During the meeting, Helen Clark said, Bangladesh under the leadership of PM Hasina can play an important role in this regard.
Adviser to the DG of WHO on Mental Health and Autism Saima Wazed, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Health Secretary Dr Md Anwar Hossain Howlader, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and executive director of centre for universal health Robert Yates were present.
Thakurgaon sadar thana OC withdrawn over ‘torture’ on Jubo League leader
The officer-in-charge of Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station was withdrawn around eight hours after a case was filed against him and four other cops for torturing a Jubo League leader.
Mohammad Jahangir Hossain, Superintendent of Police (SP) in the district, said OC Kamal Hossain was withdrawn for administrative reasons and attached to Rangpur range office.
No decision is yet to be taken regarding the four other accused police officers, he said.
Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, the case was filed against them for torturing Jubo League’s district unit Organising Secretary Asadduzaman Pulok.
The other accused are the police station’s inspector (operation) Md Latif, sub-inspectors Khoka Chandra Roy and Md Motaleb and ASI Md Hasib.
The case was filed at the court of District and Sessions Judge Mamunur Rashid who ordered judicial investigation into the incident.
The court also ordered the Civil Surgeon to submit report of treatment of Pulok within 24 hours and the superintendent of police (SP) to lodge a departmental case in this connection.
According to the case statement, police detained Pulok on April 29 and beat him up at the police station. He was sent to jail by a court. Later he was admitted to Sadar Hospital when he fell sick.
On May 2, Pulok secured bail in a case filed by police. He was again admitted to Sadar hospital for treatment on the same day.
After being discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, Pulok filed the case against the police officials.
OC Kamal denied the allegations saying that no one tortured him at the police station. They just picked them up from a fair following a clash.
65-day ban on fishing in Bay to begin from May 20: Ministry
Like the previous years, the government is going to impose a 65-day ban from May 20 to July 23 on fishing in the Bay of Bengal to ensure smooth breeding of fish, said the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry.
A media release signed by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer Md Iftekhar Hossain said this on Thursday.
Catching all types of saltwater fish will remain prohibited during the period. All commercial trawlers have been asked to abide by the ban, the release said.
5 former local staff members of Japanese Embassy conferred with “Order of the Sacred Treasure”
The government of Japan has conferred the “Order of the Sacred Treasure” upon five former local staff members of the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh.
The ceremony was held at the official residence of Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori, said the Embassy on Thursday.
The conferrals are in appreciation of their great contribution to supporting the activities of Ambassador and Embassy staff for many years.
Khan Jahangir Alam, who worked in the security section, was awarded “the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays” for his efforts to ensure the safety of the Ambassador, other embassy staff, and the Japanese community in Bangladesh by using his great communication and information gathering skills.
Abdul Gafur, who worked as a driver in the embassy, was awarded “the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays”.
Given his driving skills and knowledge, he was selected as the Ambassador’s official driver and was also chosen as a Prime Minister’s driver when the late Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe visited Bangladesh in 2014.
Parimal Barua, who worked in the administration section, was awarded “the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays” for his contribution to maintaining the embassy facility and supporting other local staff members.
Samar Cruze, who worked in the administration section, was awarded “the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays”.
He also worked hard to maintain the embassy facility as well as the embassy's vehicles. Sujit Kumar Barua, who worked in the economic section, was awarded “the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays” for his assistance to the Ambassador and other staff members by sharing his extensive knowledge of the economy, politics, and history of Bangladesh.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Iwama expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the five awardees for their great contribution to supporting the activities of Ambassador and Embassy staff for many years.
On November 3rd, 2022, the government of Japan decided to confer the decorations on these five former local staff members.
51 Bangladeshi expats return home from Sudan via Jeddah
A total of 51 Bangladeshi nationals evacuated from Sudan returned home from Jeddah Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight today (May 11, 2023).
They arrived in Dhaka from Jeddah at 10:20 am via Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG336, according to a press release by Biman.
The Bangladeshi nationals from conflict-ridden Sudan took temporary shelter in Jeddah with the help of the Bangladesh Embassy and Saudi authorities.
Earlier on May 8, Biman Bangladesh Airlines brought back 136 Bangladeshi nationals -- escaping Sudan -- from Jeddah.
Read more: Another 176 Bangladeshis from war-torn Sudan arrive in Jeddah
Meanwhile, another 130 Bangladeshis will return home by Qatar Airlines and 238 by Biman Bangladesh Airlines from Madinah today, according to a press release from the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Bangladesh is operating four chartered flights from Sudan, at its own cost, to evacuate the remaining Bangladeshi citizens to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Sudan plunged into a civil war last month that has so far claimed the lives of more than 600 people, including civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Countries around the world are scrambling vessels and airplanes to evacuate their citizens from Sudan.
Read More: Sudan: 25 dead in tribal fighting, as truce talks stall
JS body recommends providing modern equipment to Fire Service for prompt action
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Disaster Management and Relief Ministry on Thursday recommended taking steps for equipping the Fire Service and Civil Defense properly to take prompt action.
The recommendation came from the 33rd meeting of the committee with its chairman AB Tajul Islam in the chair.
The committee also suggested the ministry to take necessary steps to make people aware about the different reasons behind fire by increasing publicity in radio, television and social networking sites.
The meeting also held an elaborate discussion on overall preparation of the ministry during nor’wester and storm, occurrence of fire, building collapse.
It also informed about the progress of the decisions taken in earlier meetings of the committee.
Committee members, Md Aftab Uddin Sarkar, Mir Mostaque Ahmed Robi and Kaniz Sultana, secretary of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, Director General of Directorate of Disaster Management and Relief, representatives from Fire Service and Civil Defense and official concerned of Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat, were present at the meeting.
6th Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka: Bangladesh, India committed to an 'open, inclusive, rules based' IOR
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is no longer an idea based on "power equations", but rather a natural construct based on principles of “inclusivity, comradery, and multi-stakeholderism,” says a document related to the 6th Indian Ocean Conference being held in Dhaka on May 12, 13.
As two responsible states, Bangladesh and India are committed to ensure the rise of a “free, open, inclusive and rules based” IOR, according to the concept note of the conference.
The global order is rapidly evolving, power axis is shifting, and the complacency of the past is making way for greater confidence in future, the document reads.
The IOR has emerged as a microcosm of partnerships, collaborations, bilateral and multilateral dependence.
Also read: Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka on May 12-13: Myanmar not invited
Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun, minister- and state minister-level delegations from 25 countries including Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the conference.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the conference at a Dhaka hotel on May 12. The Prime Minister will also host a dinner in honour of the guests.
The 6th edition of the conference is being organised by India Foundation in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bangladesh.
Home to the most promising economies, the most populous lands, and the most vulnerable islands, the Indian Ocean Region is a testimony to the multifaceted challenges impacting governance in the 21st century.
Read More: Bangladesh urges Indian Ocean nations to work together to promote blue economy
With a vast reserve of natural resources and supply chain trade routes, the IOR has become an integral part of global strategic thinking.
From Europe to America and Japan to South Korea, all major powers have aligned their global strategic outreach in line with the vision of developing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region (FOIP).
With a vision towards mutual growth, prosperity and strengthening of the international community, the 6th IOC will bring together stakeholder nations to discuss and deliberate on the theme of “Peace, Prosperity, and Partnership” for a resilient future.
In light of recent developments, the global community appreciates the expansion of resilience to go beyond economic strength and military might to include in its ambit the challenges posed by rapid climatic deterioration, and the exponential rise of disruptive technologies.
Read More: Ocean health needs proper regional, global attention: Dhaka
Peace
While the expanse of the IOR makes it a region of infinite potential, it is the same expanse that can lead to damages of unfathomable scale. The region today is faced with not just traditional challenges of security but also non-traditional challenges of biohazards, cyberwarfare, and maritime piracy. The after-effects of such a disruption are unimaginable.
Thus, maintaining peace in the region is of paramount importance to ensure the rise of a resilient future. Rise of a peaceful IOR on the principles of a rules-based order will chart a new agenda for prosperity and greater partnership in the region and beyond.
Prosperity
The IOR is pegged to rise as the most economically prosperous region of the century. It has the economies of scale, mass consumer market, and technical prowess to lead the world into an era of global affluence based on the ethos of sustainable development.
The region is home to 3 of the 5 fastest growing economies of the world, 64% of the global population, and 60% of the global GDP while also accounting for 40% of the world’s oil supply and 64% of oil trade.
Read More: President of Mauritius in Dhaka to attend 6th Indian Ocean Conference, bilateral programmes
As two stakeholder nations of the region, both India and Bangladesh have been traditional advocates of responsible growth and development while living in harmony with nature.
Pushing forth the ethos of a lifestyle based on sustainable development, taking climate conscious decisions ranks high on the prosperity agenda of the IOR.
Partnerships
One lesson that the pandemic taught the world is the importance of collaborative approach to working. Partnerships in the IOR will thus be more forward looking and constructive in their scope.
With greater innovation, ample opportunities are opening up for countries to collaborate in multiple formats on carbon planning and green financing, navigating technological hegemony, the development of the blue economy, the rise of alternate forms of financing, and collaboration on public healthcare and education.
Read More: Maritime cooperation in Indian Ocean increasingly important in current geopolitical landscape: Discussants
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh's partnership with countries in the Indian Ocean will become stronger through hosting the IOC.
External Affairs Minister of India Dr S. Jaishankar will deliver the keynote address of the evening alongside special addresses by the US Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, and Vice President of Maldives Faisal Naseem.
The inaugural session will also be graced by the presence of Foreign Minister Dr Momen and Foreign Minister of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi.
The Foreign Minister of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will be represented by Dr Maliki Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore.
Official delegations led by heads of states/governments, deputy heads, cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and senior officials from 27 countries and multilateral organisations will address the conference on May 13.
Read More: PM to inaugurate Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka May 12
The Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) was started in 2016 and in the last six years it has emerged as the "flagship consultative forum" for countries in the region on regional affairs.
The conference endeavours to bring critical states and principal maritime partners of the region together on a common platform to deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
The first edition of the Indian Ocean Conference was held in Singapore in 2016.
409 shelters prepared in Khulna as depression intensifies into Cyclone Mocha
Local administration has kept 409 cyclone centres prepared for sheltering 2,73,850 people as a deep depression over the Bay turned into Cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’and it is likely to cross Bangladesh on May 14.
Khandaker Yeasir Arefin, deputy commissioner of Khulna, said the government has opened 409 cyclone shelters in the district so that people can take shelter if needed.
He said a meeting of the disaster management committee will be held at 3:30 pm today (May 11, 2023).
Abdul Karim, district relief and rehabilitation officer, said the upazila level officials were asked to remain in their respective workplaces and take precautionary measures.
Read More: Cyclone Mocha: 446 cyclone shelters ready as panic grips Bagerhat’s coastal areas
They were also asked to take steps to inform people about the danger signal through loudspeakers.
Amirul Azad, in-charge of Khulna Weather Observatory Centre, said due to the impact of cyclone ‘Mocha’ heavy rains accompanied by gusty wind may lash the district on May 13.
However, unless the direction is changed, there is no possibility of the cyclone hitting the Khulna coast, he said.
Regarding cyclone preparations, state minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman on Wednesday said , "We are acting in accordance with the SOD (Standing Orders on Disasters). I have communicated with field personnel. The forecast indicates that Cox's Bazaar is the most vulnerable. Most at risk are the low-lying areas of St. Martin Island and Teknaf.”
Read More: Cyclone Mocha looms over Bay: DAE asks farmers to harvest paddy, other crops early
Enamur Rahman said the authorities will start moving people to cyclone shelters if the cyclone danger signal reaches 5, 6 or 7.
The state minister said the army, the navy and the coastguard are also ready.
"We hope to bring down the loss of life and property to zero (if it strikes)," he said.
Rains or thundershowers likely in parts of country; Severe heat wave continues in 6 districts
Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD) has predicted rains or thundershowers in Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions in next 24 hours commencing 9 am on Thursday.
According to a Met office bulletin, “Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at one or two places over Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.”
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.
Severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Chuadanga and mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping elsewhere over the country and it may continue.
Also read: Rains likely in Dhaka, 7 other divisions: BMD
Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
Meanwhile, the deep depression over Southeast Bay and adjoining area moved north-northwestwards and intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’ over the same area and it was centred at 06 am on Thursday.
It is likely to intensify further and move in a North-Northwesterly direction till tomorrow morning (May 12).
Thereafter, it is likely to recurve gradually and move North-Northeastwards.
Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower distant cautionary signal number 1 and instead hoist distant warning signal 2.
President of Mauritius in Dhaka to attend 6th Indian Ocean Conference, bilateral programmes
President of Mauritius Prithvirajsing Roopun, accompanied by his spouse and high officials of the Mauritius government, arrived in Dhaka on Thursday.
He was received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Minister of Liberation War Affairs AKM Mozammel Huq.
This is the first president-level visit from Mauritius to Bangladesh.
Also read: Mauritius praises Bangladesh’s socio-economic transformation
Roopun will join the '6th Indian Ocean Conference 2023' to be held in Dhaka as well as bilateral programmes.
He will also meet with President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmad will pay courtesy calls on the visiting President of Mauritius.
The President of Mauritius will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his martyred family members.
He is also due to visit the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka. During his tour, he will see textile industries as well.
Bangladesh and Mauritius have excellent bilateral relations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The relations have been reinforced by the presence of around 20,000 Bangladeshis in Mauritius employed there.