Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen
Young urged to take lead role for addressing climate challenges
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen called upon the youth to come forward and take the lead to tackle the challenges of climate change.
He made the call when he interacted with the students of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, one of the globally famous universities, and the only university in the world with a detailed research programme and course on adaptation for climate change.
Read: Pay compensation to climate vulnerable nations
Dr Momen stressed on the role of the academia, the researchers, the students in creating a platform to address the challenges of climate change in a fast and efficient way.
The Foreign Minister also visited Deltares, the leading Dutch institute for applied research in the field of water.
He held a meeting with Annemieke Nijhof, Managing Director of Deltares and her scientist colleagues.
The issue of implementation of the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 was discussed in details in the meeting.
Foreign Minister Momen is on a three-day official visit to the Netherlands.
Read: Bangladesh's points to be on agenda of Biden's Climate Summit
He is scheduled to have bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands at the Foreign Ministry in The Hague before his return to home on Thursday.
Climate emergency demands policy shift to adaptation: Global leaders on COP26
Global leaders gathered in Rotterdam to participate in the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) high-level dialogue have said the climate emergency demands policy shift to adaptation
The dialogue titled “An Adaptation Acceleration Imperative for COP26” held in Rotterdam, Netherlands on Monday.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen represented Bangladesh in the dialogue.
With less than a hundred days to go until the world’s most significant summit on climate change, the dialogue established that the success of COP26 will be determined by whether, for the first time, climate adaptation is elevated to an equal priority with the mitigation of carbon emissions.
Patrick Verkooijen, the CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, who convened the dialogue, said they are now living in the eye of the storm – ‘adapting the world to our climate emergency is essential for our safety even as we tackle a global pandemic’.
"From now on, we’re fighting a battle on two fronts: we have to fight to slash emissions while investing the same level of energy to adapt to a global climate emergency. Millions of lives and the safety of communities around the world are already at stake.”
Read:UK Foreign Secretary reaffirms support for Bangladesh’s climate actions
Over 50 leaders from the international climate and development community attended the dialogue which concluded with a communique adopted in the presence of the dialogue’s co-conveners, chair of the Board, 8th Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, Patrick Verkooijen, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva and UN High-Level Climate Champion on Private Sector for COP26, Feike Sijbesma.
The recent report from the IPCC warned a major worsening of climate impacts is coming a decade earlier than previously anticipated with unprecedented and irreversible changes.
It highlighted that certain impacts, such as extreme heat spells, would double in scale over the next decade, demanding unprecedented acceleration and investment in adaptation and resilience to counteract the growing climate emergency.
“We should be very clear that there is no issue with the Paris Agreement itself. It has been exactly the framework we needed, if only it could be lived up to. What we need to do is rebuild confidence and trust to work together under the Paris regime," said Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation.
He said countries are ready for new ambition on adaptation, and they are ready for much scaled up financing for adaptation too. "For this, solutions already out there need to be shared and put into place.”
Ban Ki-moon noted that the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), created by GCA in partnership with the African Development Bank and backed by the African Union, serves as a template for the ambition and approach that needs to be scaled across all regions of the world.
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chair of the African Union, Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi said at the peak of the corona pandemic, there was a collective political will, by all countries, to address the crisis.
He also announced that, under the auspices of the African Union, he will chair a Leaders Event for friends of Africa’s adaptation during COP26.
EU promises 10mn Covid-19 vaccine doses for Bangladesh
Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Ambassador Rensje Teerink has said they have promised 10 million Covid-19 vaccine doses for Bangladesh, mentioning that it is not justified to say the EU is not generous enough in terms of vaccine sharing.
“We can say the EU has been the driving force behind the global response to Covid-19. Let’s not underestimate how we, in fact, want to reach out to developing countries,” she said, apparently reacting to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen’s recent comment.
Read: Rohingya issue not to disappear from agenda despite new global challenges: EU
The EU envoy, however, said they are aware that it (10 million doses) is not enough and hoped that they can provide more.
Ambassador Teerink was delivering her keynote address at a virtual dialogue titled “Bangladesh-European Union Relations: Prognosis for the Future” premiered on Thursday.
Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Cosmos Group, hosted the dialogue as part of its ongoing Ambassador’s Lecture Series.
The opening remarks were delivered by Cosmos Foundation Chairman Enayetullah Khan. The session was chaired by Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, renowned scholar-diplomat and former Advisor on Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Caretaker Government.
Distinguished Fellow at Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, former BGMEA President and Mohammadi Group Chairperson Dr Rubana Huq, founder Chairman of Policy Research Institute (CRI) Dr Zaidi Sattar and Prof at International Relations Department of Dhaka University Imtiaz Ahmed and Honorary Advisor Emeritus, Cosmos Foundation Ambassador (Retd) Tariq A Karim comprised the panel of discussants.
Dr Momen, UK Minister Raab to meet to chart post-Brexit new strategic partnership vision
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Raab are scheduled to hold their official meeting in London on Thursday to chart a post-Brexit and post-Covid new strategic partnership vision.
"The official bilateral talks will be a historic occasion as the Bangladesh and UK Foreign Ministers will be meeting in London for the first time during the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two friendly countries," said Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland Saida Muna Tasneem.
Britain was one of the first countries in Europe to recognise Bangladesh’s independence on Feb 4, 1972.
Read:Int'l support architecture for Asia-Pacific LDCs need of the hour: Momen
The visit of Dr Momen is also highly significant as it would provide an opportunity to set the tone for Bangladesh CVF Presidency’s high-level participation in the upcoming COP26 scheduled in Glasgow in early November under UK’s Presidency, said High Commissioner Tasneem.
Return of the Rohingyas back to Myanmar and regional security issues will also feature in the discussions, said the High Commissioner.
The Foreign Minister is due to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral issues with the UK Foreign Secretary from post-Brexit trade relations, Bangladesh-UK new economic partnership vision to post-covid vaccine cooperation and lifting Bangladesh out of UK’s travel red list.
Bangladeshi-British diaspora and work opportunities of skilled professionals from Bangladesh would also feature high in the talks, said the envoy.
On his arrival on Wednesday, the Foreign Minister will be received by High CommissionerTasneem at the Heathrow Airport.
Prior to the bilateral talks with the UK Foreign Minister, Dr Momen will also have a bilateral meeting with COP26 President Alok Sharma at 9 Downing Street to discuss the COP26 agenda for Bangladesh with a particular focus on loss and damage and the proposed CVF-COP26 Leaders’ Summit under Bangladesh Presidency.
Read: Momen-Raab talks in London soon with focus on boosting ties
Apart from the official meetings, the Foreign Minister will deliver a climate talk on “Forging a CVF-COP26 Climate Solidarity” at the UK's leading think tank Chatham House, organized jointly by Bangladesh High Commission and Chatham House.
The event will also be attended by Maldives Speaker and former President and CVF Thematic Ambassador for Ambition Mohamed Nasheed along with a number of CVF Ambassadors and High Commissioners and climate experts.
The Minister will deliver a keynote speech on “Bangladesh-UK at 50:Towards a post-Brexit, post-Covid Economic Vision” at a high-profile business dialogue with British and British-Bangladesh chambers, including three mainstream chambers- British Chambers of Commerce, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.
Bangladesh High Commission in collaboration with British-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI) is organising the event.
Dedicating to the philosophy of peace and non-violence of Bangladesh’s Founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and marking his birth centenary, the Foreign Minister is expected to inaugurate a peace grove in central London.
Read: FM to attend series of programs in Switzerland, Netherlands
Dr Momen will visit the Bangladesh High Commission when he will officially inaugurate the Bangabandhu Library, the Centennial Portrait of Bangabandhu, the Bangabandhu Consular Week and the extended premises of Bangladesh High Commission at 27 Queens’ Gate.
He will also participate in an interactive dialogue with Bangladeshi young talented students from UK’s eminent universities.
During his UK visit, Dr Momen is expected to meet some British MPs and dignitaries at official and civic receptions and join community events, including the NRB Foundation and CAP Foundation programmes, to exchange views with expatriate Bangladeshis from the UK and Europe.
Int'l support architecture for Asia-Pacific LDCs need of the hour: Momen
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has called for stronger policies and support measures for the least developed countries (LDCs).
Addressing the opening session of the four-day Asia-Pacific Regional Review Meeting in Geneva on Monday, the Minister, in fact, urged the global community to chalk out a new international support architecture for the LDCs as well as the graduating LDCs.
Read: FM to attend series of programs in Switzerland, Netherlands
The Asia-Pacific meeting, jointly convened by the Bangladesh government, UN-OHRLLS and UN-ESCAP, was held in preparations for the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (UNLDC-5) slated for January in Qatar.
Speaking at the event, Dr Momen lauded the remarkable progress made by the majority of the LDCs in the Asia-Pacific, particularly in reducing poverty and investing in human resources and infrastructure.
He shared the graduation story of Bangladesh under the dynamic, bold and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which has witnessed the per capita income reaching $2,227 and reduction of poverty to 20.5 percent. Rabab Fatima, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York, chaired the opening session, while several top leaders, including Volkan Bozkir, President of the UN General Assembly, Collen Vixen Kelapile, President of the ECOSOC, Eisenhower Mkaka, Foreign Minister of Malawi and Chair of the LDCs, and Faruk Kaymakci, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey, spoke at the event.
Sudanese President wants broader ties with Bangladesh; seeks more investment
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit has invited more investment and engagement from the government and entrepreneurs of Bangladesh.
Assured his support, the President mentioned that South Sudan maintains a very open foreign policy and requested Bangladesh to take advantage of it.
He also stated that they would consider to reinforce the diplomatic relations by opening representations at both the capitals.
Read:South Sudan names road after Bangladesh
The President made the remarks when Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen met him in Juba, South Sudan on Saturday.
President Kiir recognized the development of Bangladesh and expressed his sincere thanks for the offer of the Foreign Minister to extend support and cooperation.
He particularly appreciated the immense contributions made by the Bangladeshi peacekeepers since their independence and different current infrastructural and social developmental activities of the peacekeepers in different parts of South Sudan.
Dr Momen conveyed the greetings of President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh to him and the people of South Sudan.
South Sudan names road after Bangladesh
The South Sudan government has named a road in its capital Juba as "Bangladesh Road".
It was constructed with the help of the Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Engineering contingent.
The Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Engineering contingent received lots of applause from the people and the government of South Sudan for their pro-people construction works, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen met with the South Sudanese acting Defence Minister Gen. Chol Thon Balok at his office in Juba on Friday.
READ: Bangladeshi peacekeepers boost country's image globally through dedication, efficiency: FM
Bangladeshi peacekeepers boost country's image globally through dedication, efficiency: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladeshi peacekeepers have enhanced the country's image internationally through dedicated and efficient services in the UN peacekeeping missions.
He identified the participation of Bangladeshi peacekeepers as an opportunity to project the image of the country abroad.
Read: Nature of peacekeeping has changed: FM
The foreign minister visited Bangladesh peacekeeping contingents in South Sudan Thursday.
He visited the Bangladesh Engineering Construction Unit and Bangladesh Marine Forces Unit deployed in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Juba.
During his interaction with the peacekeepers, Dr Momen mentioned the role of the government in enhancing the participation of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in the UN missions.
The minister said the government also sent Formed police units (FPUs) to different UN missions who have earned a lot of reputation with their performance.
"Bangladesh is now the top troop-contributing country to the UN peacekeeping operations owing to the efficiency, acumen and professionalism of our peacekeepers," he said.
Read: FM greets UN chief Guterres on re-appointment
Also, Dr Momen said the government has facilitated the deployment of female peacekeepers in the UN peacekeeping operations.
A monument can be built in the Dhaka Cantonment to pay tribute to the sacrifices of Bangladeshi peacekeepers, he suggested.
During the visit to the UNMISS, he received a gun salute from a contingent of Bangladeshi peacekeepers and signed the visitors' book.
The Bangladesh contingent in the UNMISS comprises a good number of female peacekeepers along with male ones.
Later, the foreign minister interacted with the acting special representatives of the UN secretary-general of the UNMISS, the forces commander of the UNMISS, the mission chief and the deputy forces commander of the UNMISS.
During this time, the officials apprised the foreign minister about the activities of the UNMISS and highly praised the role of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in the UNMISS.
Dr Momen is now visiting South Sudan to meet Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in different contingents in the UNMISS and also meeting with the high political leadership of South Sudan.
The delegation of the foreign minister comprises non-resident Bangladesh ambassador to South Sudan, officials from the Armed Forces Division and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Momen mourns loss of lives in Haiti quake
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the massive earthquake in Haiti.
In a message sent to Foreign Minister of Haiti Claude Joseph, Dr Momen conveyed his deep condolences over the natural disaster and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families.
Read:Tensions over aid grow in Haiti as quake’s deaths pass 2K
He wished quick recovery of those badly affected by the deadly earthquake.
‘‘My thoughts and prayers are with your government and the people of Haiti at this difficult time,’’ Dr Momen said.
He hoped that the country would soon be able to overcome the impact of the catastrophe.
Read:FM mourns loss of lives due to wildfires in Algeria
‘‘Bangladesh has been ravaged by natural disasters time and again, but we have overcome these calamities with strong leadership and resilience of the people,’’ the Foreign Minister said.
ASEAN: Dhaka seeks Jakarta's proactive role for Rohingya repatriation
Bangladesh has requested Indonesia to remain proactive in ASEAN platform to convince Myanmar for creating a conducive environment for a safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made the request when outgoing Ambassador of Indonesia to Bangladesh Rina Prihtyasmiarsi Soemarno met him on Tuesday.
Dr Momen suggested that an ASEAN-led observer team may be deployed in the Rakhine State to oversee the repatriation process.
Read: ‘Will remain alert’, says FM about Afghan-trained terrorists
He also said since there was no major violence in the Rakhine State in the last four years, repatriation can start under the supervision of a neutral international body.
The ambassador assured to remain engaged on the issue and continue Indonesia’s support for a durable solution to the crisis.
The Foreign Minister thanked Indonesia for the humanitarian support extended to the Rohingyas and sought political support from it on the repatriation issue.
Terming Indonesia as an important partner of Bangladesh in the South East Asian region, the Foreign Minister suggested that the multi-faceted relations could be expanded if more people to people contacts take place and barriers in trade and investment are removed.
He sought Indonesia’s support towards Bangladesh’s bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of the ASEAN.
Dr Momen said as a natural bridge between South and South East Asia, Bangladesh is a genuine candidate to become a Dialogue Partner of the ASEAN.
Read:Rohingya children must be educated in their own language: FM