Chattogram, Mar 23 (UNB) – Assistant High Commissioner of India in Chattogram Anindya Banerjee on Saturday said around 14.5 lakh Bangladeshi nationals visited India in 2018 on tourism, medical and business purposes.

At a press briefing at the assistant high commission’s stall of the ongoing 27th Chattogram International Trade Fair, he also said Indian visa application centres have been opened in Brahmanbaria, Cumilla and Noakhali too to facilitate easy access to Indian visas.

Anindya said more Bangladeshi people are getting interested to make foreign trips following Bangladesh’s economic advancement and enhancement of their living standard. “India is an ideal place for visit at a cheaper cost,” he said.

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mahbubul Alam, its Vice-president Syed Zaman Ahmed and directors Mostafa Chowdhury, Zahirul Islam Chowdhury and Anjan Shekhar Das were present.

Mentioning that India always provides assistance to Bangladesh as its true and trusted friend, Mahbubul expressed the hope that it will participate in the fair as a partner country in the future and sought assistant high commission’s cooperation in this regard.

Dhaka, Mar 23 (UNB) - Domino’s Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, is continuing its global growth momentum with the recent opening of its first restaurant in Bangladesh.

Within its first week of operations, Domino’s Pizza in Bangladesh witnessed a record number of orders, which is the highest for the brand across its network in 85 countries.

US Ambassador in Dhaka Earl R Miller joined the celebrations in the city on Saturday as part of the global announcement.

Domino’s Pizza has entered Bangladesh through a joint venture between the master franchisee Jubilant FoodWorks Limited (JFL), one of India’s largest food service company, and the local operator Golden Harvest QSR Limited, a part of Golden Harvest Group.

The brand is operating under the JV named Jubilant Golden Harvest Limited.

With the opening of the restaurant, residents of Dhaka can now enjoy hot, freshly-baked pizza in-store or through take-away.

The first restaurant in Dhanmondi area features the new pizza theater design, refreshing and inviting interior, stylish seating as well as a front row seat to watch all the action of pizza-making.

Additional locations are planned for later in the year, said a press release.

“The Jubilant management team, together with their local operator Golden Harvest, bring extensive operational experience, and we’re fortunate to have them bring this experience to Bangladesh,” said Joe Jordan, executive vice president of Domino’s International.

“Domino’s is building beautiful pizza theaters across the world, and we’re happy to bring these stores to Dhaka.” he added.

Pratik Pota, CEO and Whole time Director, Jubilant FoodWorks Limited said, “We are delighted to share that Domino’s Pizza Dhaka has witnessed the highest pizza orders ever to be registered by any new store globally in its first week.

This achievement is a reflection of the acceptance of our pizzas, both international bestsellers as well as the ones specially developed for the Bangladesh market, and our attractive value for money pricing. We look forward to growing our presence in Bangladesh and being able to serve many more consumers across the country.”

Rajeeb Samdani, Managing Director, Golden Harvest said, “This is an amazing feat that Domino’s Pizza has achieved in Bangladesh. This record reflects the love of the Bangladesh pizza lovers towards Domino’s, we are humbled to have been an integral part of it. We aim to be number 1 in pizza market, following this wonderful beginning, our belief has strengthened to achieve the same over the period of time.”

Domino’s now operates in more than 85 markets worldwide, with more than half of its global retail sales coming from international stores.

Dhaka, Mar 22 (UNB)— Football powerhouse Argentina has expressed willingness to provide training facilities for Bangladeshi footballers to help them become more skillful.

The issue was discussed briefly in a bilateral meeting between Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship Jorge Marcelo Faurie and his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen in Buenos Aires on Thursday.

They met on the sidelines of the BAPA+40, the Second High-level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation, held in Buenos Aires, a press release of the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations received here on Friday said.

Momen and Faurie recalled the contribution of Argentine writer and ‘Friends of Liberation War Honour’ award winner Victoria Ocampo to Bangladesh’s War of Independence.

They also discussed the Rohingya issue, with special focus on creating required environment in Myanmar's Rakhine State for voluntary return of Rohingyas to their place of origin. 

The two ministers underscored the importance of enhancing trade and investment cooperation between the countries.

Dr Momen said Bangladesh wants to open an honorary consulate in Argentina and appoint an honorary consul there. The Argentine foreign minister assured him of extending all-out support in this regard.

Dhaka, Mar 22 (UNB) - Bangladesh has urged everyone to stand against terrorism across all platforms to dispel Islamophobia and promote interfaith harmony in a comprehensive manner.

Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury made the call on Friday at an emergency OIC executive committee meeting in Istanbul on the terrorist attacks on Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand.

He also underlined enhancing OIC collaboration within the umbrella of the UN, according to Bangladesh Embassy in Ankara.

The emergency session of Foreign Ministers ended with adoption of a Communique calling for taking pragmatic measures by OIC to tackle terrorism, Islamophobia and hatred against Muslims around the world. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the current Chair of OIC Summit, convened and chaired the meeting. OIC Secretary General Dr Yousuf Al Othaimeen attended the session. 

Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters attended the session at the invitation of Turkey as a guest of honour. 

He also delivered a statement emphasising interfaith harmony as well as giving a brief description of actions taken by his government to express and extend support and respect to Muslim community in New Zealand. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a statement before the meeting highlighting the importance of collective efforts by OIC to tackle terrorism, Islamophobia and hatred against Muslims in non-Muslim countries.

Land Minister Chowdhury told the meeting that Bangladesh is following a policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism in its all forms and manifestations under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Chowdhury appreciated the government and the people of New Zealand for their prompt support and respect towards the Muslim community there.

The session was preceded by a senior officials meeting in the evening of March 21 where the communique was finalised. 

Ambassador Gousal Azam Sarker, Director General (International Organisation), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey M Allama Siddiki, Deputy Chief of Mission of Bangladesh Embassy Riyadh Dr Nazrul Islam, Consul General of Bangladesh in Istanbul Dr Monirul Islam and Rais Hasan Sarower, Minister Political of Bangladesh Embassy Ankara were present. 
 

Dhaka, Mar 22 (UNB) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all to value water resources and ensure their inclusive management to protect and use this vital resource sustainably for the benefit of all people.

“We must encourage cooperation to tackle the global water crisis and strengthen our resilience to the effects of climate change to ensure access to water for all, especially for the most vulnerable,” he said adding that they striveto achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In a message marking the World Water Day that falls on March 22, the UN chief said these are vital steps towards a more peaceful and prosperous future.

Guterres said water is vital for survival and, alongside sanitation, helps protect public and environmental health. “Our bodies, our cities and our industries, our agriculture and our ecosystems all depend on it.”

He said water is a human right and nobody should be denied access. “This World Water Day is about upholding this right for all, leaving no one behind.”

Today, the UN chief said, 2.1 billion people live without safe water due to factors such as economic status, gender, ethnicity, religion and age.

He said growing demands, coupled with poor management, have increased water stress in many parts of the world.

“Climate change is adding dramatically to the pressure. By 2030, an estimated 700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense water scarcity,” said the UN chief.