Foreign-Affairs
Asia-Pacific countries adopt 10 UN resolutions reaffirming commitments to protect the planet and its people
Governments from across Asia and the Pacific on Friday endorsed a UN resolution to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact.
They committed to immediately curb greenhouse gas emissions – of which the region accounts for over half of the global emissions, according to an ESCAP media release signed by Kavita Sukanandan, public information officer at Communications and Knowledge Management Section of the organization.
“The global climate fight will be won or lost in this crucial decade; in this context, the resolution demonstrates the commitment by countries in the region to take faster and bolder climate action to ensure that their climate goals are met,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP at the closing.
The resolution further recommends countries to promote clean energy technologies, regional power system connectivity, low-emission mobility, early warning systems and strengthened use of climate change-related statistics as part of crucial mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Nine other resolutions aimed at strengthening regional action and partnerships towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were also adopted at the 79th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which was held in Bangkok from 15 to 19 May and drew over 1,000 representatives from governments and stakeholder groups.
Among others, the resolutions underscored commitments towards environmental protection; mitigating and minimizing the consequences of disasters in the water basin of the Aral Sea; supporting countries in special situations; promoting digital cooperation and inclusion; advancing the use of space applications; promoting disability-inclusive development; better understanding of the linkages between climate and ocean; and sustainable urban development.
Recognizing the transformative role of cities at the frontline of almost all global development and climate agendas, countries emphasized the positive contributions of national, subnational and local governments. They encouraged stakeholders to work together closely to develop impactful urban initiatives in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
Several of the resolutions at this year’s Commission also acknowledged the unique challenges of least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States in the region, who find themselves increasingly vulnerable amidst the impacts of climate change, geopolitical tensions, economic headwinds and the COVID-19 pandemic.
A report released to coincide with the meeting revealed that despite the clear benefits of connectivity in transport, energy and ICT, these countries in special situations lag far behind what other countries in the region have managed to achieve.
On the sidelines of the 79th Commission session, ESCAP and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat signed a memorandum of understanding to complement each other’s strategic work on the SDGs, climate action and resilient development, social inclusion and equity, and regional economic and trade cooperation opportunities in the Pacific.
10 Bangladeshis return home from India after serving for intrusion
Ten Bangladeshis returned home from India through Benapole checkpost in Jashore on Thursday night after serving sentences in jail for two years, authorities said.
The returnees are Arif Mollah, 23, Korban Ali, 25, Pannu Mollah, 28, Solaiman, 20, Sharif, 24, Saiful Islam, 19, Yeasin Sheikh, 25, Nazibul Islam, 20, Sumanto Mondal, 18, and Sohel Hawlader, 21.
Ahsan Habib, officer-in-charge of Benapole Immigration Police Station, said they handed over the 10 Bangladeshis to Benapole port police station after completing formal procedures.
They (Bangladeshis) returned home with a special travel permit offered by the Indian government after ending their jail periods, he said.
Rokey Parveen, a field officer of local NGO ‘Justice and Care’, said the Bangladeshis went to India with a hope of managing jobs in Chennai but local law enforcers arrested them and sent them to jail for intrusion.
After serving the jail term, they were released while an Indian NGO ‘Tirgo’ took them under their custody and finally sent them back to Bangladesh through the checkpost, she added.
Save the Children launches digital equity fellowship for fresh female graduates
Save the Children has offered 10 full-time positions to fresh female graduates to learn and work at their TecHHub Bangladesh under the different working areas of the ICT Department as a part of their Digital Equity Fellowship.
The humanitarian organization for children launched this fellowship on International Girls in ICT Day 2023 to promote gender equity in the digital world.
More than a thousand applicants have applied for the fellowship till now, according to a press release of the organisation.
Under the programme, applicants go through three rounds of selection. After primary selection, selected candidates had the opportunity to join the fellowship introductory webinar on 17 May, where a dialogue session was arranged among youth groups and dignitaries from the private sector, academicians, I/NGOs, UN representatives, and DEF applicants, it said.
There will be three online grooming sessions starting on 22nd May on communication, leadership, and professional growth mindsets and online quizzes.
Based on their performance in the sessions and the quiz, shortlisted candidates will be invited for on-site group activities, practical tasks, and interviews, the press release read.
Ten selected candidates will get a 12-month full-time employment opportunity as ‘Digital Equity Fellows’ to work in different fields of ICT.
BBS to receive USD 9.65 million from KOICA to upgrade facilities with modern technology
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) will receive USD 9.65 million from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to upgrade facilities, share knowledge, and upgrade technology, says KOICA.
The KOICA, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), on Thursday announced the successful completion of the on-site implementation survey for the Capacity Building of Statistics Service based on Platform (National Statistics Data Warehouse and Big Data Analysis Platform) Project.
The objective of this project is to improve the Statistical Office’s productivity and service by making a master plan, installing a data warehouse, and improving the capacity of BBS officials.
The duration of the project is 60 months with a budget of 9.65 million USD.
The expert team worked closely with the BBS team from May 07–18, 2023, to conduct the implementation study, which was critical to understanding the project’s requirements and identifying challenges that may arise during the implementation phase.
Director General of BBS Md. Matiar Rahman assured of providing all sorts of cooperation to make this project successful, which will be a milestone for BBS in achieving Bangladesh's development goals.
Security provided to diplomats in Bangladesh ‘much better’ compared to many others: Shahriar Alam
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Thursday said the government and the law enforcement agencies are ensuring security of the foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka in a “much better and efficient way” compared to many other countries.
“Our government and law enforcement agencies have continuously been providing the security and will continue to provide in an efficient way,” he told reporters while responding at State guesthouse Padma.
The State Minister said the government has explained much on the same issue and noted that they have a lot of work in their hands. “We have more objectives to achieve. We have explained a lot.”
The Embassy of the United States currently receives 158 security personnel including two gunmen from the Special Branch.
Of them, the Embassy, residence and other establishments receive 39 security personnel each and the total number is 117.
Thirty-nine more security personnel are deployed for other diplomats’ residence of the US Embassy, according to the government data.
However, eight additional personnel, used to receive as escort, have been withdrawn.
The British High Commission in Dhaka currently gets 29 security personnel and two gunmen while seven additional personnel, used to get as escort, have been withdrawn.
Read more: Foreign Ministry to share modalities of Ansar services for foreign missions tomorrow or May 21
On the other hand, the High Commission of India receives 40 security personnel while the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka gets 48 security personnel.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday said the government will share information on alternative security services that the Ansar can provide for diplomatic missions in Dhaka either tomorrow or Sunday.
"We have discussed in detail about the modalities. They (Ansar) have shared information about their capabilities. We have got a kind of idea in which format we will convey to foreign missions," he told reporters after a meeting with Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque.
The foreign secretary said they will inform the missions in a note verbale on Sunday (May 21), if it is not possible by tomorrow.
Read more: Foreign envoys to get back additional security if they want, given they pay for it: Home Minister
Dhaka optimistic over win of its candidate for IMO Secretary General
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Thursday expressed optimism over Bangladesh’s victory in the post of Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
“He is a professional having a much decorated professional life. We expect good result,” he told reporters at State guesthouse Padma after briefing two dozens of diplomats of the IMO member countries.
IMO currently has 175 Member States and three Associate Members and there are candidates from Finland, China, Turkey, Dominica, Kenya and Panama for the same post.
Read more: Bangladesh nominates Moin Uddin Ahmed for post of Int’l Maritime Organization’s Secretary-General
“To seek support in favour of Bangladesh candidate and to inform about him (candidate), the briefing was arranged,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told reporters at a weekly briefing on Thursday.
Bangladesh has nominated Captain Moin Ahmed as a candidate for the post who was present at the briefing, said the Spokesperson.
The election will take place at IMO Headquarters on July 18, according to the IMO.
Read more: Meghalaya ready to contribute to Bangladesh-India bilateral trade, Chief Minister says
Following the election in July 2023, the decision of the Council will be submitted to the 33rd session of the Assembly of IMO in late 2023.
The assembly will be invited to approve the appointment, and the elected Secretary-General will take office on January 1, 2024.
Seven IMO Member States have each nominated a candidate for the post of Secretary-General of IMO.
The term of the incumbent Secretary-General, Kitack Lim of the Republic of Korea, expires on December 31, 2023.
Read more: Dhaka, Seoul high-level visits needed to tap full potential of existing relations: Shahriar
The nominations received by the deadline set for receipt of nominations – March 31, 2023 – are listed below in alphabetical order by candidates’ names:
Captain Moin Ahmed (Bangladesh), Suat Hayri Aka (Türkiye), Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco (Panama), Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry (Dominica), Nancy Karigithu (Kenya), Minna Kivimäki (Finland) and Zhang Xiaojie (China).
The IMO Council at its 128th session (December 2022) approved the procedures for holding the election of the Secretary-General in July 2023 session of the Council.
Captain Moin Ahmed was elected as the Director-General of International Maritime Satellite Organization (IMSO) in their 25th assembly session.
He was first elected as the Director General in November of 2014 and commenced his position in April 2015.
He was a Senior Technical Officer in IMO Maritime Safety Division, before his nomination as the Director general of IMSO in 2014.
Dhaka, Seoul high-level visits needed to tap full potential of existing relations: Shahriar
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has stressed on the exchange of high level visits between Bangladesh and South Korea to tap the full potential of the existing bilateral relations.
State Minister Alam expressed his happiness for the ongoing development activities between the two countries.
Outgoing South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun had a farewell meeting with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs at his office on Wednesday.
Read more: Economic cooperation needed among countries in South and Southeast Asia: PM tells outgoing Korean envoy
They exchanged views on furthering the bilateral cooperation in the sectors of trade & investment, skilled labour, connectivity, Indo Pacific, high level visits, people to people contact etc.
Ambassador Lee highlighted on four major milestones that have been achieved during his tenure in Bangladesh.
These are: increase of bilateral trade (from USD 1.5 billion to USD 3 billion), ODA (USD 700 million to USD 3 billion), EPS Workers (from 1,500 to 10,000 per year) and FDI (USD 1.4 billion in 2022).
He also expressed his satisfaction for the ongoing Dhaka-Seoul direct flight and the inauguration of the assembling plants of 2 Korean giant companies - Hyundai and Samsung in Bangladesh.
The State Minister thanked the Ambassador for his successful tenure in Bangladesh and wished him success for his future assignment.
Read more: New framework arrangement signed in South Korea for provision of $3 billion from EDCF to Bangladesh
Meghalaya ready to contribute to Bangladesh-India bilateral trade, Chief Minister says
The state government of Meghalaya, of India, is keen to deepen economic and trade ties with Bangladesh.
Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, discussed this when the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Md. Mustafizur Rahman, paid a courtesy call on him at his office on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister apprised the High Commissioner about the opportunities and possibilities of expanding trade and commerce in the state of Meghalaya.
Read more: 'Dhaka, Delhi satisfied over bilateral cooperation'
In particular, he highlighted the possibility of direct import of garment, plastic and electronic products, processed food and frozen food from Bangladesh, according to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
Foreign Ministry to share modalities of Ansar services for foreign missions tomorrow or May 21
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday said the government will share information on alternative security services that the Ansar can provide for diplomatic missions in Dhaka either tomorrow or Sunday.
"We have discussed in detail about the modalities. They (Ansar) have shared information about their capabilities. We have got a kind of idea in which format we will convey to foreign missions," he told reporters after a meeting with Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque.
The foreign secretary said they will inform the missions in a note verbale on Sunday (May 21), if it is not possible by tomorrow.
Ansar battalion is ready to provide additional security protocol to envoys with immediate effect, said the Director General of Ansar.
Members of the Ansar battalion have already been engaged in such types of protocol duties in the country, including the parliament.
Earlier on Tuesday, the foreign secretary said the government will offer the services of the Ansar – a paramilitary auxiliary force – to the foreign missions in Dhaka as alternatives, as the withdrawal of “additional security escort” for four diplomats came into effect.
The Foreign Secretary held a meeting with the director general of the Ansar on Wednesday to know about the facilities they can offer and build a connection with those missions who are willing to take this service.
The Foreign Secretary said the government is aware of the responsibilities as a host country under the Vienna Convention and regular security measures for foreign missions and their personnel remain unchanged.
Foreign envoys to get back additional security if they want, given they pay for it: Home Minister
Dhaka, May 17 (UNB)-- Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday that the additional security that has been withdrawn from ambassadors of some countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, will be given back if they want, but they must pay for it."When we had the rise of militants, we had a reign of terror here…at that time, we used to give protection to only four embassies. It was not applied to us in writing, nor they requested us. We gave them (additional security) so that they faced no trouble,” the minister said."We think that situation is no longer there. Since that situation is not there, we have lifted this protection. However, if an ambassador thinks it will be needed, then the new Ansar Guard Regiment will give them protection…They have to pay the cost and we will arrange for them accordingly. That's how it has been decided,” he added.The Home Minister made the statement in response to a question after a meeting of a taskforce assigned to implement recommendations to ensure discipline in the road transport sector and curb accidents. The meeting was held at the conference room of the Home Ministry.He clarified more.
"I reiterate that in every embassy we have police protection for their security and there are also gunmen for the four ambassadors I spoke about. There are all kinds of protections. The protection we used to give only on the road has been withdrawn. I think I’ve made it clear," he said.
Asked if any attack on the ambassadors could create concern about the security condition in Bangladesh, the home minister said, "I have told you clearly, if they think they need that protection on roads, we have everything ready. They'll get it if they want to.”
"We will also give this Ansar Guard Regiment to the ministers and VIPs in phases," he said.