Foreign-Affairs
US govt’s new visa policy does not bother Bangladesh government: Shahriar Alam
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said on Wednesday that the new visa policy announced by the US government "does not bother" the government of Bangladesh as authorities are "committed" to holding a free and fair election.
"It’s not a sanction. BNP should be worried as violence before or during election is another criterion that will trigger visa restriction," he told UNB in a quick response when his reaction was sought.
The State Minister said they will give an official reaction in detail once they know details about the policy on Thursday.
Read more: US announces new visa policy targeting next general election in Bangladesh
The United States on Wednesday announced a new visa policy to promote free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
"Under this policy, we can impose visa restrictions on individuals and their immediate family members if they are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced.
New US visa policy declared targeting next Bangladesh polls
The United States has said the country is not imposing any new sanctions on Bangladesh but announced a new visa policy to promote free and fair elections.
"Under this policy, we can impose visa restrictions on individuals and their immediate family members if they are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday.
This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of the ruling or opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and security services, according to the announcement available at the US Department of State.
Read more: US govt’s new visa policy does not bother Bangladesh government: Shahriar Alam
The United States notified the Bangladesh government of such a decision on May 3, 2023.
"Actions that undermine the democratic election process include vote rigging, voter intimidation, the use of violence to prevent people from exercising their right to freedoms of association and peaceful assembly, and the use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from disseminating their views," Blinken said.
Read more: Bangladesh's upcoming national polls will be under AL govt: PM Hasina
The holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone—voters, political parties, the government, the security forces, civil society, and the media, he said.
"I am announcing this policy to lend our support to all those seeking to advance democracy in Bangladesh," Blinken said.
Bangladesh, Turkey will continue to support each other: Shahriar Alam
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Wednesday said Bangladesh and Turkey will stand by each other whenever there is an emergency.
He also hoped that the bilateral ties between the two countries will further be enhanced during the tenure of the new Ambassador of Turkey in Bangladesh.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs requested the government of Turkey to continue its support for the Rohingya and their safe return to Myanmar, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen had a courtesy meeting with Shahriar Alam at the Foreign Ministry.
During the meeting, they discussed various bilateral issues and stressed for enhancing bilateral trade and investment as there is huge potential to expand cooperation between the two countries.
The Turkish Ambassador thanked the government of Bangladesh for sending a rescue and evacuation team and relief materials to Turkey after the devastating earthquake.
Qatar's Amir promises larger supply of LNG to Bangladesh
The Amir of Qatar on Wednesday assured Bangladesh of providing all sorts of facilities to Bangladesh regarding larger supply of LNG from his country.
“I promise you that I, being the Amir, will provide all sorts of facilities to you as you are a friendly country,” Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani was quoted as telling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a meeting at Amiri Diwan in Doha.
The two leaders also discussed different issues of bilateral cooperation on energy, business, investment, Bangladeshi manpower as well as Muslim Ummah and development of Bangladesh
“This meeting was held in a very warm environment,” said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at a press briefing here.
About energy, the Amir said the negotiation of signing a new contract over the larger supply of energy from Qatar to Bangladesh remains pending for a few months.
Momen said it (the promise) is a big achievement for Bangladesh, adding that this fresh contract might be signed anytime soon.
Now Bangladesh is importing some 40 containers of energy that means 1.8-2.5 MTA as per a 15-year contract signed in 2017. But now Bangladesh seeks the larger supply of LNG from Qatar.
Praising Hasina’s leadership, the Amir of Qatar said that they once knew that Bangladesh was a disaster and poverty-stricken country. But when Sheikh Hasina came to power, she removed the food deficit in Bangladesh.
In this context, the prime minister said her government brought down the poverty rate to 18.5 percent from 41 percent and the extreme poverty rate to 5.6 percent from 25 percent in the last 14 and a half years. “I’ve made Bangladesh free from poverty. Poverty is a curse,” she was quoted as saying.
PM Hasina said she has the only goal to turn Bangladesh into a developed country as dreamt by her father (the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman).
“We’ve progressed to some extent. But my work has not finished. I want to work more. But I alone can’t do it. I seek your assistance. I need more investment. I have opened my country. You can come with investment for mutual benefits,” she told the Amir.
Hasina invited the Amir of Qatar to visit Bangladesh, if possible within this year.
In response, the Amir said he would definitely visit Bangladesh.
Talking about the Muslim Ummah, the PM said the Muslim countries get engaged in conflicts on trivial matter in some cases, which is a barrier for the unity of the Ummah.
She requested the Amir of Qatar to work for the unity of Muslim Ummah for the development of the world Muslim community.
In reply, the Amir said he may not be able to make the Muslim Ummah united, but he will endeavour in this regard.
About the fear of losing jobs among Bangladeshi workers in Qatar, the Amir said 370,000 Bangladeshis are currently here and they are blessings for Qatar. Qatar is going to take new projects and the Bangladeshi people will stay here and they are industrious and working sincerely. “We’re very happy with Bangladeshis,” he was quoted as saying.
Momen said the meeting was very warm. “This is a significant thing. He received her from her car,” he said.
Later, the prime minister visited Awsaj Academy, a specialized school for the children with special needs, which runs under Qatar Foundation here in Doha.
Hasina visited several classrooms of the academy. There are some 500 students aged from 3 years to 25 years and 185 teachers in the Awsaj Academy
Artworks drawn by its students were presented to the Bangladesh prime minister. She also gifted four artworks drawn by Bangladeshi autistic children to the academy.
At the time, the PM sought assistance from Qatar over training for teachers of such schools and early detection of autistic children in Bangladesh.
The authority assured that they can train Bangladeshi teachers through a virtual platform, said Momen.
FIFA, WHO to extend collaboration to promote health through football
FIFA and WHO have agreed to extend their collaboration and continue to use the power of football for promoting healthy lifestyles and equal access to health services worldwide.
During the seventy-sixth World Health Assembly in Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and FIFA President Gianni Infantino signed a four-year extension to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which has been in place since 4 October 2019.
“Health and football are perfect teammates. Promoting healthy lifestyles, safe stadiums and the physical and mental benefits of physical activity are among the many health goals WHO is proud to keep scoring with FIFA for the next four years,” said Dr Tedros.
“We are proud to have signed and renewed the Memorandum of Understanding with the World Health Organization - we are proud to continue our relationship to pass important physical and mental health messages through our global football audience,” Gianni Infantino said.
During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, FIFA and WHO launched the Football Unites the World campaign. Supported by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Hassan Al-Haydos, Karim Benzema, Lucy Bronze, Giulia Gwinn, Kaká, Robert Lewandowski, Carli Lloyd, Édouard Mendy and Emmanuel Petit as well as by two of the WHO’s Goodwill Ambassadors for Sport and Health, namely Alisson Becker and Didier Drogba, it illustrated football’s unrivalled ability to bring people together.
Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs due May 26
Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong is scheduled to arrive here on Friday on a two-day official visit to discuss issues of mutual interest.
He will have bilateral meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen during his stay in Dhaka.
The meeting is likely to take place on Saturday, said a Foreign Ministry source.
Recently, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh Yao Wen said Bangladesh and China "should deepen the strategic partnership" for cooperation and explore new growth points.
"China is willing to work with Bangladesh to continue exploring cooperation opportunities under the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)," he said.
In particular, the ambassador said, they are willing to promote upgrading of industries and digitalization process in Bangladesh, and to improve the quality and competitiveness of “Made in Bangladesh”.
Senior CPC official meets delegation of Bangladeshi ruling party
Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with a delegation of the Bangladesh Awami League on Wednesday.
The delegation was led by Muhammad Faruk Khan, presidium member of the Bangladesh ruling party and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, reports Xinhua.
The Chinese and Bangladeshi sides exchanged views on strengthening institutionalized communication between the two parties, promoting nation-building, safeguarding regional peace and stability and the common interests of developing countries.
Dhaka, Delhi attach priority to building critical connectivity infrastructure: Envoy
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Wednesday highlighted the priority accorded by governments of Bangladesh and India to building critical connectivity infrastructure.
He said that the India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship had touched new heights across all sectors in recent times, and Bangladesh was India’s largest development partner both in terms of value and number of projects, with nearly 10 billion dollars extended under concessional financing.
A ground breaking ceremony for the project for “Widening of Baraiyerhat-Heanko-Ramgarh Road” was held on Wednesday.
The project is being taken up under government of India’s third Concessional Line of Credit of USD 4.5 billion extended to the government of Bangladesh.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader joined the virtual ceremony as the chief guest held at Sarak Bhaban.
Read more: India sees huge potential for cooperation with Bangladesh Railway
High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pranay Verma along with Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division A.B.M. Amin Ullah Nuri participated as special guests.
The physical ground breaking ceremony was held for work package 1 with senior officials of Roads and Highways Division present on site.
More than USD 2 billion has been contracted till date and disbursements crossed the milestone of USD 1 billion during the year 2022.
The High Commissioner expressed appreciation for the fact that India had emerged as the fastest and largest disburser among the development partners of Bangladesh during the most challenging pandemic period.
He emphasized the importance of projects in the roads and highways sector, with five projects worth USD 932 million, 12% of the total commitment under implementation by Roads and Highways Department.
Additionally, three supply projects worth USD 91 million for supply of double-decker, single-decker, AC and non-AC buses and heavy-duty trucks have already been completed, thereby taking India’s total project commitment in the roads and highways sector to over USD 1 billion.
The Baraiyerhat-Heanko-Ramgarh road widening project, at a total project cost of USD 80.06 million under government of India Line of Credit, envisages the widening of approximately 38 kms of the Baraiyerhat-Heanko-Ramgarh road in Ramgarh upazila under Khagrachhari district and would contribute to improvement of the road network between the Chattogram port and the Ramgarh Land Port.
Additionally, with government of India funded India-Bangladesh Maitree Friendship Bridge on Feni River having already been constructed, this road project will boost two-way trade between Bangladesh and India as well as regional trade of Bangladesh through the Sabroom-Ramgarh LCS, said the Indian side.
Bangladesh Embassy in Washington celebrates golden jubilee of conferment of Joliot-Curie Peace Medal on Bangabandhu
The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC has celebrated the golden jubilee of the conferment of the Joliot-Curie Peace Medal on greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a befitting manner.
In 1973, Bangabandhu, the architect of independence and the forerunner of democracy and peace movement, was awarded the Julio-Curie Peace Prize by the World Peace Council.
To commemorate the historic day, the embassy took a programme on Tuesday paying tributes to the Father of the Nation and remembering his outstanding contributions to establishing peace in the world, said a press release.
Officials and employees led by Ambassador Muhammad Imran placed wreaths at the bust of Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Corner of the embassy.
The messages issued on the occasion by the president and the prime minister were read out by Deputy Chief of Mission Ferdousi Shahriar and Counsellor (Public Diplomacy) Arifa Rahman Ruma at the auditorium of the embassy. Later, a documentary was screened on the occasion.
Speaking at the event Ambassador Imran recalled Bangabandhu's great role in achieving independence and establishing world peace.
Describing May 23 as a glorious day for Bengali nation, the Ambassador said the Father of the Nation dedicated his entire life to the quest for peace and freedom. During his long political career, Bangabandhu always supported the peace-loving people at home and abroad and stood beside them, he said.
Minister (Economic) Md. Mahadee Hasan also took part in the discussion and focused on the Father of the Nation’s long struggle to earn independence and establish world peace.
Special prayer seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his other family members martyred on the fateful night of August 15, 1975 was also offered. Head of Chancery and Counsellor (Political) Md Moniruzzaman conducted the programme.
Saudi Arabia wants to make large-scale investment in Bangladesh: Saudi ministers tell PM Hasina
Saudi Arabia has offered to make large scale investment in various sectors of Bangladesh as the country has a stable government and good record of economic growth.
Saudi Arabian Minister of Investment Khalid A. Al-Faliah and Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim came up with the offer when they jointly called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her place of residence in Doha on Tuesday.
While briefing the reporters after the meeting, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said they said Saudi sees a few issues as investor --stability (of country) and future of investment.
During the meeting, they said the present situation and future of Bangladesh is very good and this is why they have taken the decision to strengthen its relation with Bangladesh.
The Saudi ministers said Bangladesh has a stable government and Bangladesh’s economic growth is very good. Bangladesh's leadership, vision and commitments are very good, they added.
They informed that Saudi Arabia has already taken a few proposals. Of these, they want to do Patenga port and take the economic zone beside it. Saudi Arabia wants to establish Bangladesh as a regional hub considering its geographical location as the country is in between South and Southeast Asia. If Saudi makes it a hub, they can cover Indonesia, Malaysia and more countries, they added.
The two ministers said their country wants to set up major distribution centres of Saudi petrochemical, diesel, jet fuel, fertiliser and shipping lines in Bangladesh. They want to make Patenga as a red sea gateway.
In reply, the prime minister said that she has already given permission and urged them to start it immediately.
Hasina offered the Saudi government Matarbari and Payra Sea ports and economic zones in this regard as well for the mutual benefits.
In this regard, she directed the authorities concerned to take necessary measures for removing obstacles if there is any to ease Saudi investment in Bangladesh.
Saudi Arabia also wants to develop a partnership with Bangladesh through cooperation in various sectors like agriculture for mutual benefits.
In this regard, they assured the prime minister of providing necessary financial and technical assistance to Bangladesh.
The Saudi ministers requested Bangladesh for making investment to build housing and hospitals in Saudi Arabia for Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims.
The two ministers requested the prime minister to establish pharmaceuticals, beverage and real estate industries in Saudi Arabia for the benefits of the two peoples.
They highly appreciated Bangladesh’s RMG sector saying that Bangladesh has shown that it has become the capital of textiles and garments in the world.
PM's Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam was present in the press briefing.