Foreign-Affairs
Bangladesh has no significant changes in human rights: US report
There had been "no significant changes" in the human rights situation in Bangladesh during the year 2023, the United States has said in a new report.
The country reports in the 2023 Human Rights Report (HRR) do not draw legal conclusions, rank countries, or draw comparisons, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday.
There were numerous reports of widespread impunity for human rights abuses, said the report in its Bangladesh chapter.
Trade talks with USTR delegation 'comprehensive': Foreign Secretary
In most cases, it claimed, the government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials or security force members who may have committed human rights abuses.
The U.S. Department of State released the 2023 Human Rights Report, which the US Embassy described as a "factual and objective" record on the status of respect for human rights worldwide.
The 2023 Human Rights Report (HRR) covers 198 countries and territories.
The individual reports in the HRR detail "credible factual information" on human rights abuses and violations, providing a tool used by governments, advocates, journalists and others concerned about the state of human rights and democracy in specific countries and territories, said the embassy.
The United States has issued these reports for nearly five decades.
The HRR represents several months of work performed by U.S. Department of State colleagues in our missions abroad and in Washington, D.C.
Bangladesh seeks Kyrgyzstan’s support for signing FTA with Eurasian Economic Commission
The HRR informs U.S. foreign policy decisions and assists the U.S. Congress, Executive Branch, and immigration courts when accurate information on human rights conditions is needed.
The HRR also informs the work of civil society — including human rights defenders—lawmakers abroad, scholars, immigration judges and asylum officers, multilateral institutions, and other governments.
Contractual Appointment: Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan gets 6 months extension
The government has extended the contractual appointment of Shahabuddin Ahmed as the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan by another six months.
His new appointment will be effective from July 1, 2024, according to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration.
The government, in 2020, appointed Shahabuddin Ahmed as the ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan for three years.
He got an extension later, and his tenure was scheduled to end in June this year.
With the latest extension by six months, he will remain Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan until December this year.
EU in phase of "future-proofing” relations with Bangladesh: Ambassador Whiteley
Ambassador Shahabuddin is a former secretary to the government of Bangladesh and was also a member of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Administration cadre.
Shahabuddin obtained his Bachelor and Masters degree in Soil Science from the University of Dhaka.
He also completed his degree in Development Finance from the University of Birmingham.
Trade talks with USTR delegation 'comprehensive': Foreign Secretary
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen had a meeting with the Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch in Dhaka on Monday.
During the meeting at the state guesthouse Padma, the two sides engaged in comprehensive discussions on various aspects of Bangladesh-US trade relations, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
USTR delegation discusses bilateral trade, labour rights in meeting with BGMEA
The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening economic ties between the two countries and exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration in trade and investment.
Both sides expressed their commitment towards fostering a conducive environment for bilateral trade, addressing the trade barriers, and promoting mutual economic growth.
USTR lauds progress; shares where further improvements are required
Asst USTR Lynch is visiting Bangladesh as the head of the five-member delegation and attended the inter-sessional Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) meeting that took place on Sunday.
Bangladesh seeks Kyrgyzstan’s support for signing FTA with Eurasian Economic Commission
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has requested Kyrgyzstan to support Bangladesh for signing the free trade agreement (FTA) with Eurasian Economic Commission and also to support Bangladesh’s candidatures in different international fora.
He made the request when Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Avazbek Atakhanov paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
Minister Hasan mentioned that there are a lot of scopes for increasing the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries and requested Kyrgyzstan to import garments, pharmaceuticals, jute products, tropical fruits, ceramics, IT products, etc. from Bangladesh.
Indian FS’s visit postponed due to their internal reasons: Hasan Mahmud
The Foreign Minister sought Kyrgyzstan’s assistance for repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland. He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support to the legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people for independent statehood, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Minister expressed happiness at the successful completion of the first Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries.
He thanked the President of Kyrgyz Republic for his congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for her re-election on 7th January 2024.
Hasan Mahmud raises 1971 genocide issue with Pak envoy
The Foreign Minister recalled the valuable support of Kyrgyz people as part of the former USSR extended to our Liberation war in 1971.Meanwhile, the First Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan was held at State guesthouse Padma on Monday.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Avazbek Atakhanov led their respective sides in the FOC.
All possible areas of bilateral engagements were discussed in the meeting including political cooperation, candidatures in different multilateral fora, increasing the volume of bilateral trade, educational cooperation, agricultural cooperation etc.
Both Foreign Secretary and the Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister agreed that trade between Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan is still very negligible and there are ample scopes to further enhance bilateral trade.
Both sides expressed hope that the pending MoUs between the two countries would be signed soon.
The Foreign Secretary mentioned that Bangladesh’s tourist spots like Cox’s Bazar and Sundarban can be attractive destinations for Kyrgyz tourists.
Both sides also exchanged their views on issues of regional and global security including the situation in Myanmar, Russia-Ukraine war and the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Foreign Office Consultation between the two Foreign Ministries was also signed during the FOC.
EU in phase of "future-proofing” relations with Bangladesh: Ambassador Whiteley
European Union (EU) Ambassador Charles Whiteley on Monday said the EU is now in a phase of "future-proofing” their relations with Bangladesh, signaling a premium on conserving or preserving the relationship, by engaging widely.
“This is a very important partnership. It's an indispensable relationship. And we are working on all fronts with this government (of Bangladesh) for our mutual benefit. Bangladesh is a very valued partner across many different policy areas, not just development,” he said, highlighting engagement in the areas of economy, climate change, migration and political issues.
The ambassador, during an interaction with journalists at the office of daily Amader Shomoy and The Business Post, said they no longer call themselves just a development partner.
Daily Amader Shomoy Editor Abul Momen, advisory editor Dr Khondaker Showkat Hossain also spoke at the interactive session moderated by Amader Shomoy and The Business Post Executive Editor Mainul Alam.
The ambassador visited different sections of the two dailies and exchanged views with the journalists there.
He said they are now living through very dangerous times globally and lots of terrible events happening around the world.
“And when you have terrible times, you need to hold your friends closer. And Bangladesh is a very close friend of the European Union. And we have many things in common that we want to achieve globally,” said Whiteley.
He observed that they are all facing another downturn in the European economy. “But I'm confident that that will turn around and Bangladesh is extremely competitive - you see that not only competitive in terms of price, but also competitive in the garment sector in terms of beginning to make sure all environmental social criteria are met.”
He said Bangladesh has a very strong advantage, certainly in the European market. “As you'll also know, we're quite a demanding customer, I have to be frank, we're demanding not just in terms of the buyers, but in terms of the rules that were applying to the inputs that come to the EU.”
Ambassador Whiteley described the situation in Myanmar and in Europe, they are trying to keep the flame alive for the Rohingya crisis.
“And it is still a crisis that is far from being over. I was just in Brussels in March at the European Humanitarian Forum. And there was a whole session devoted to the crisis,” he said, adding that there was a panel to discuss how they take things forward to try to be more supportive to Bangladesh.
“I think the situation in Myanmar and the instability to the whole situation, because the threat of regional instability, of course, draws attention to big powers and is interested in the future of the region,” said ambassador Whiteley.
That means, he said, a renewed attention on the need to support Bangladesh. “And certainly we will keep our funding, as I say we expect to keep funding levels, and I hope we can, because now it's been seven years or so, we need to find other sources of funding, not just crisis funding.”
The EU envoy also shed light on the progress regarding the negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which aims to broaden and modernize the framework for the partnership; export diversification, cooperation in education sector, ways to promote regular migration, clean energy and labour rights issues.
Bangladesh has made good use of duty - and quota- free access to the EU market under the ‘Everything But Arms’ scheme.
Beyond trade, migration, human rights, Rohingya crisis and development cooperation, Bangladesh and the European Union, today, want to step up cooperation on climate action, digitalisation, connectivity and security, taking into account the EU Strategy for cooperation in the Indo Pacific.
‘Baishakhi Mela and Curry Festival’ held in Japan
The 23rd edition of ‘Baishakhi Mela & Curry Festival’ with participation of around 10, 000 Bangladeshis living in Japan was held at Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park in Japan’s Toshima city on Sunday.
A book tilted ‘Father of the Nation Bangabandhu' on the struggling life of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman written in Japanese Manga form drew huge attention in the fair.
NRB Scholars Publishers Limited from Bangladesh participated in the fair with the book this year.
M E Chowdhury Shamim, author and publisher of the book and founder of Centre for NRB Foundation, was present at the fair.
PM Hasina to leave for Thailand Wednesday on official visit to boost ties
He said Bengali, English and Japanese versions of the book, which won bronze prizes in the 17th International Manga Awards in Japan, were sold at the stalls.
However, a large number of Japanese bought the book written in Japanese Manga form to know the role of Bangabandhu in the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the author said.
Besides, expatriate Bangladeshis collected the book for their second generation living in Japan, he said.
Qatar Emir’s visits to Bangladesh, Nepal should prioritise migrant workers' protections: HRW
Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed distributed the book among Bangladeshi children at free of cost.
The book was unveiled in the form of Japanese 'Manga' on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-Japan friendship on April 5 last year.
Later, the book was handed over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo during Sheikh Hasina's visit to Japan on April 28.
PM Hasina to leave for Thailand Wednesday on official visit to boost ties
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a six-day official visit to Thailand from Wednesday at the invitation of her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Bangladesh and Thailand will sign a number of cooperation documents including a letter of intent on negotiations for free trade agreement between the two countries, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters at a media briefing on Monday.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh and Thailand are likely to sign an agreement on visa exemption for official passport holders, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation while two more MoUs on tourism sector cooperation and duty related mutual cooperation to expand the relations.
Primer Minister Sheikh Hasina will witness the signing of the documents.
"It's both bilateral and multilateral visit," he said while responding to a question.
He said Bangladesh will also seek support from Thailand regarding Rohingya repatriation.
The foreign minister said the issue of shipping connectivity will also be discussed. "I am very much interested to raise the issue."
He said Bangladesh will seek increased investment from Thailand.
The scheduled bilateral visit of the prime minister will be the first-ever visit at the level of head of government from Bangladesh to Thailand since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972.
The visit is significant for both Bangladesh and Thailand as it will open new windows of cooperation between the two friendly countries, Minister Hasan said.
The PM would lead a high level delegation which includes a number of ministers, advisers, secretaries and senior officials of the government.
Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman will accompany the prime minister during April 24-29 visit.
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak and State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu will also be part of the Bangladesh delegation.
On April 26, PM Hasina will be formally received by her Thai host Srettha Thavisin while a ceremonial guard of honor will be accorded to her.
On the same day, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin at the Government House.
During the visit, the prime minister will have a Royal audience of Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand at the Palace.
Hasina is also scheduled to attend a state lunch to be hosted by her Thai counterpart in her honour.
In her multilateral engagement PM Hasina is scheduled to attend the 80th Session of the Commission for UNESCAP.
She will deliver a speech at UNESCAP on April 25. On the same day, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjabana will call on the prime minister.
Guided by the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the eightieth session will be an opportunity to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on leveraging digital innovation for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The session will bring together government leaders and ministers from across Asia and the Pacific and other key stakeholders to discuss how digital innovation can more inclusively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across multiple disciplines.
Moreover, participants will be able to identify opportunities to fully unleash the transformative potential of digital innovations and discuss pathways to strengthen their contribution to sustainable development, said the organisers.
A digital innovation fair will provide space to engage with a broad range of partners and stakeholders showcasing digital innovations that are already contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across the region.
Asia and the Pacific are uniquely placed to leverage digital technologies to overcome sustainable development challenges.
Already, the region is recognized as a dynamic hub for digitally driven innovation fueled by pioneering technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Finance, GovTech, and the Internet of Things.
Yet to encourage further ingenuity and tap digital innovation to bolster the huge collective effort required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the region needs a plan.
Qatar Emir’s visits to Bangladesh, Nepal should prioritise migrant workers' protections: HRW
The visits of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Bangladesh and Nepal should prioritize labour protections for migrant workers, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.
Both are key countries for Qatar’s migrant workforce, which makes up 88 percent of the country’s population.
Al-Thani is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh this afternoon and in Nepal on April 24.
“It is important for Qatar, Bangladesh, and Nepal to go beyond exchanging diplomatic pleasantries over their longstanding labour ties and seize this moment to publicly commit to concrete, enforceable protections that address the serious abuses that migrant workers in Qatar continue to face,” said Michael Page, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
“The Qatari emir should not just meet heads of state, but also visit dialysis centers filled with migrant worker returnees from Qatar and speak with the families of workers who died in Qatar to see the grave consequences of inadequate Qatari labor protections.”
Migrant workers from Bangladesh and Nepal have been indispensable to Qatar’s economy, including in the preparation and delivery of the 2022 World Cup, according to a message received from Beirut.
The Qatar-to-Nepal and Bangladesh routes that the Qatari leader is taking are well-trodden, with thousands of workers making this journey daily.
As “guest workers” in a country that does not offer citizenship to most foreigners, the expectation is that workers come to Qatar to work, earn money, and, sooner or later, leave.
Qatar-based jobs have enabled migrant workers to send remittances back home to their families, but many workers leave Qatar worse off than before they migrated.
They experience abuses that include wage theft, contract violations, and chronic illness linked to unsafe working conditions.
Many migrant workers do outdoor work and are exposed to Qatar’s extreme heat, and the lack of worker protections from this serious health hazard can take a devastating toll.
Some workers also have been deported for demanding their contractually-owed wages and benefits.
There have been thousands of unexplained deaths of young, healthy migrant workers in Qatar, and in many cases grieving familiesgrieving family members receive neither an explanation of the reasons for their loved ones’ death nor compensation justification nor compensationfrom employers or Qatari authorities.
“Public commitments by the Qatari emir to concrete, enforceable worker protections during these two high-profile visits, including compensation to workers who faced serious abuses and families of the deceased, would be the best way to mark his trips to the homes of millions of current and former workers who have helped transform Qatar,” Page said.
Indian FS’s visit postponed due to their internal reasons: Hasan Mahmud
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said the planned official visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra to Bangladesh was postponed due to their various internal reasons.
“Look, elections are underway there (in India). It (visit) was postponed because of various internal (India's) reasons,” he told reporters when asked about the reasons behind the postponement of the visit.
Hasan Mahmud raises 1971 genocide issue with Pak envoy
The foreign minister said it has not been conveyed to Dhaka yet when the visit will take place.
The visit, which will take place on a mutually convenient new date, is part of high-level exchanges between Bangladesh and India and to review progress in two countries' bilateral cooperation agenda, said a diplomatic source.
Though there was no official announcement from Dhaka and New Delhi regarding the visit, the Indian FS was scheduled to be in Dhaka on a brief visit on April 20.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India is planned early July after the conclusion of the neighbouring country’s national election, which is the world's largest democratic exercise, spanning seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the vote count set for June 4.
BNP continuously trying to destroy democracy, election system: Hasan Mahmud
Pre-election surveys suggest a strong showing for the coalition led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely anticipated to secure re-election.
"Prime Minister's (Sheikh Hasina) India visit will definitely take place. However, it will take place after the election in India," FM Hasan said recently.
He said it is not yet discussed at the official level when the visit will exactly take place.
In January, Modi extended warm congratulations to PM Hasina on her electoral victory, expressing hopes for the continued strengthening of the historically close ties between India and Bangladesh.
The last bilateral engagement between the two prime ministers occurred during the G-20 Leaders Summit in September 2023, where Bangladesh was the guest country.
PM taking nation forward by removing all obstacles: Hasan Mahmud
PM Modi is expected to extend invitations to South Asian and BIMSTEC country leaders for his swearing-in ceremony, fostering regional cooperation.
The government of India in March extended Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra's tenure by six months.
Kwatra assumed charge as India’s foreign secretary on 1 May, 2022 and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1988.
Hasan Mahmud raises 1971 genocide issue with Pak envoy
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday raised the issue of genocide committed by Pakistan military during the War of Liberation in 1971 during his courtesy meeting with High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof.
“Naturally, there was a discussion about the genocide that took place here in 1971. I also shared my personal sufferings,” Minister Hasan told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question.
Bangladesh seeks an official apology from Pakistan for the genocide committed during the 1971 Liberation War in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, both sides emphasized that cooperation can be expanded in trade and commerce, agricultural cooperation, and people-to-people contact, according to the MoFA.
They also agreed to work together at the United Nations and other International Organizations for promoting common interest.