Dhaka, Jan 22 (UNB) - Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Bangladesh Saed Mohammed Saed Hmaid Almheiri on Tuesday met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and discussed various issues of bilateral relations.

The Foreign Minister expressed happiness at the enhanced engagement between Bangladesh and the UAE in the recent months.

He hoped that there will be further expansion of cooperation in the areas of human resources, trade and investment, civil aviation and defence and other potential sector for the socio-economic development of the two peoples.

During the meeting held at the Foreign Ministry, they also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern as well as cooperation in different multilateral platforms.

Minister Momen assured the UAE envoy of Bangladesh’s cooperation and support in bilateral and international arena.

Ambassador Almheiri conveyed the Foreign Minister the greetings and best wishes of his UAE counterpart, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Dhaka, Jan 22 (UNB) - Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka is going to present a colourful evening of “Confluence of Music and Poetry” at Kabi Sufia Kamal Auditorium at National Museum in Shahbag on Friday (January 25).

The programme will be performed by Madhuban Chakrabarty from India and Afsana Runa and Shihab Shahriar of Bangladesh, said a press release of Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Tuesday.
 
Madhuban Chakrabarty is a renowned voice over artist and anchor. She started her career from ETV Bangla as a news reader. She has also worked in AAKASH 8 channel as a producer and anchor. 

She is also anchoring a popular show called “Good Morning Akash”. Presently she is working in Tara TV and has produced three popular shows. She has learnt classical music from renowned artist Pt. Jayanta Bose and also learned Bangla Adhunik songs from Pt. Sanjay Chakrabarty and Sri Sukemer Mitra. 

Madhuban Chakrabarty completed her MA in Dhrupad with First Class.

Afsana Runa is a teacher at Chhayanaut, Department of Nazrul Sangeet and is teaching at Nazrul Institute, Kobi Nazrul Bhavan of Dhanmondi in Dhaka. She has rendered her voice in films like “Ekattorer Ma Janani”, “71-er Khudiram” and “Jaibati konnar mon”. She has five albums in her credit amongst which two is on Nazrul Sangeet and three is on modern songs. Afsana Runa completed her M.A in History from University of Dhaka.

Shihab Shahriar is a poet, researcher, short story writer, editor. He has 20 published books in his credit. He is editor of ‘Amar Bangladesh and Rupkothar ei Bangladesh’. He edited - 'Boitha', a little magazine. He is presently a regular visiting artist on BTV and other private channels and holds regular literary events. He has travelled exclusively worldwide to spread his beautiful genre of music and literary works. Dr. Shihab Shahriar, started his career with journalism. Currently he is working in Bangladesh National Museum. Present position: Keeper, Department of Public Education, Bangladesh National Museum. 
 
All are cordially invited. Entry is open to all and strictly on first come first serve basis. 
 

Dhaka, Jan 22 (UNB) - Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said Bangladesh wants partnership, cooperation and collaboration from all countries to expedite its journey on development highway achieving core development goals.

"We need partnership, collaboration and cooperation to build Sonar Bangla. We need connectivity," he told a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club in the evening saying Bangladesh cannot accomplish some tasks alone. 

Bangladesh Study Trust (BST) arranged the discussion titled "Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN): Its Prospect and Reality" with BST General Secretary Prof Dr Mamun Al Mahtab in the chair.

Speaking as the chief guest, the Foreign Minister laid emphasis on arranging a discussion with relevant ministries to determine Bangladesh's role in making BBIN initiative more effective and stronger. 

He said Bangladesh needs massive investment to achieve its development goals and turn Bangladesh into a developed nation by 2041 which, he thinks, is difficult but achievable. 

The Foreign Minister said the government is giving much importance on economic diplomacy and stronger connectivity for ensuring faster development in the country by boosting trade.

He also highlighted energy cooperation among BBIN members ensuring a win-win situation. 

Terming Bangladesh's relations with India and other countries very warm, Minister Momen laid emphasis on cooperation for better water resources management. 

He also touched upon cooperation in the areas of trade, education, technology and tourism.

Former Ambassador M Abdul Hannan presented a keynote paper at the discussion meeting.

Former Ambassador AKM Atiqur Rahman, JnU Prof Dr Baladas Ghoshal, former BGMEA President Atiqul Islam and cultural personality Pijush Bandyopadhyay, among others, spoke on the occasion.

They expressed frustration over the ineffectiveness of Saarc and Pakistan's negative role, and suggested going ahead with the BBIN initiative. 
 

Dhaka, Jan 22 (UNB) - The ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work has called on governments to commit to a set of measures to address the challenges caused by unprecedented transformational change in the world of work. 

Co-chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Löfven, the commission outlined a vision for a human-centred agenda that is based on investing in people’s capabilities, institutions of work and in decent and sustainable work. 

A universal labour guarantee, social protection from birth to old age and an entitlement to lifelong learning are among 10 recommendations made in a landmark report by the International Labour Organization’s Global Commission on the Future of Work, ILO said on Tuesday.

Managing technological change to boost decent work, including an international governance system for digital labour platforms, greater investments in the care, green and rural economies, a transformative and measurable agenda for gender equality and reshaping business incentives to encourage long-term investments are among the recommendations.

"Countless opportunities lie ahead to improve the quality of working lives, expand choice, close the gender gap, reverse the damages wreaked by global inequality. Yet none of this will happen by itself. Without decisive action we’ll be sleepwalking into a world that widens the existing inequalities and uncertainties," the report stresses. 

It outlined the challenges caused by new technology, climate change and demography, and calls for a collective global response to the disruptions they are causing in the world of work. 

Artificial intelligence, automation and robotics will lead to job losses, as skills become obsolete. 

However, these same technological advances, along with the greening of economies will also create millions of jobs – if new opportunities are seized. 

The report is the culmination of a 15-month examination by the 27-member commission, which is made up of leading figures from business and labour, think tanks, academia, government and non-governmental organizations. 

“The ILO Global Commission Report on the Future of Work is a vital contribution to global understanding of the changes occurring – and that will continue to unfold – in the world of work,” said Ramaphosa. 

“The report should stimulate engagement and partnerships within and between national and regional jurisdictions to ensure that the global economy and global society becomes more equitable, just and inclusive. At the same it should inspire global action to contain or eliminate challenges that humanity has inflicted on itself in the course of history."  

Löfven, for his part said: "The world of work is undergoing great changes. They create many opportunities for more and better jobs. But governments, trade unions and employers need to work together, to make economies and labour markets more inclusive. Such a social dialogue can help make globalisation work for everyone.” 

The report also highlights the ‘unique role’ the ILO should play in the development and delivery of the ‘human-centred economic agenda’ in the international system and calls on the organization to give urgent attention to the implementation of the report’s recommendations. 

"The issues highlighted in this report matter to people everywhere and to the planet," commented ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. 

"They may be challenging but we ignore them at our peril. The ILO’s mandate, bringing together governments, employers and workers from all parts of the world, means the organisation is well suited to act as a compass and a guide in order to help open up new vistas for coming generations at work."

Dhaka, Jan 22 (UNB) - The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said their government is not a party to movements of Rohingyas mentioning that it is aware of media reports of alleged movement into Bangladesh by some such persons. 

"Government (India) is not a party to such movements," said the MEA Spokesperson in response to a question about the presence of “Rohingya” refugees stranded on the India-Bangladesh boundary in Tripura.

The spokesperson said they will work with their neighbours to handle such matters through mutual consultation.

"Government is aware of the presence of 31 persons originally from Rakhine State in Myanmar, currently at the Zero Line on the India-Bangladesh border," said the MEA spokesperson. 

While their documentation and claims are being examined, necessary shelter, food and material are being provided to them by forces guarding the Indian border, the spokesperson mentioned.