Foreign-Affairs
It's not necessary to use visa broker to apply for US visa: Embassy
In coordination with the U.S. Embassy, Bangladesh police have arrested six individuals who were selling fraudulent entry and exit stamps to U.S. visa applicants.
U.S. visa applicants are responsible for the information they provide on visa application forms and for any documents they provide at the interview.
The best guidance for prospective visa applicants is to review information on the U.S.
Embassy website, be prepared for their interview with any supporting documentation, and provide factual and truthful answers during the visa process and interviews, said the US Embassy in Dhaka in a media statement on Friday.
Read more: US Embassy to host university fairs in Dhaka, Chattogram
It is not necessary to use a visa broker to apply for a U.S. visa, Embassy Spokesperson Jeff Ridenour said.
U.S. visa applicants are encouraged to complete their own applications online, as all the information needed to make an application can be found on our website.
"We also caution prospective applicants that presenting false information and documents may not only result in a visa denial but may also result in an ineligibility that prevents future travel to the United States," reads the statement.
Bangladesh, Nepal ties expanded into all areas in last 50 years: Ambassador Ghanshyam
Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari on Friday said the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Nepal expanded into all areas – including economy, communication, trade, education, and culture – after the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries on April 8, 1972.
He was speaking at an art competition organised by the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka, Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship Society and Bangladesh Book Club at the Central Shaheed Minar the capital to mark the 50 years of Bangladesh-Nepal diplomatic ties.
Read more: Dhaka, Kathmandu seek enhanced ties for mutual gains
Speaking as chief guest at the event, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid said there are a lot of similarities between the cultures of Bangladesh and Nepal.
"Also, after India and Bhutan, Nepal became the seventh country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign country on January 16, 1972."
Targeted awareness, outreach efforts 'essential' to prevent human trafficking, says Blinken
The US has said human trafficking is a crime globally that deprives millions of people of their dignity and freedom.
"To properly tackle this crime, it will take a commitment from each of us to end human trafficking. Targeted awareness and outreach efforts are essential," said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
An estimated 27.6 million are now victims of trafficking worldwide.
Read more: UN Special Rapporteur will assess rights violation in trafficking during official visit to Bangladesh
This month is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time for people, organisations, communities, and federal organisations to join in "our efforts to combat all forms of human trafficking, including sex trafficking and forced labour," he said.
The US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Fight Slavery and Trafficking in Persons Project organised an event last week to bring together government and civil society stakeholders to incorporate feedback from regional workshops into the revised National Plan of Action.
French foreign ministry director calls on Bangladesh foreign secretary
Bertrand Lortholary, director for Asian Affairs at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, called on Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen Thursday at the Foreign Service Academy.
Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy and Director General (West Europe and EU) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Kazi Russel Pervez were also present.
During the meeting, both sides discussed different bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the follow-up of the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to France in November 2021, political relations between the two countries, development cooperation, and defence cooperation.
Bertrand and Masud also talked about collaboration in aviation, space and aerospace technology, cultural cooperation and cooperation in archaeology, GSP+, repatriation of the Rohingya, the war in Ukraine, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and climate change.
Bertrand is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh to co-chair the first bilateral political consultations between Bangladesh and France.
Read more: Bangladesh, France keen to build partnership in aviation, space, aerospace technology
Kamrul Ahsan to continue as Bangladesh ambassador to Russia for two more years
The government has extended the contractual appointment of Kamrul Ahsan by two more years as Bangladesh ambassador to Russia.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette notification on Thursday regarding his reappointment.
Ambassador Kamrul joined the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow on January 5, 2020, and presented his credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 5, 2020.
Before his assignment in Russia, he had been secretary for bilateral and consular affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He was promoted to the rank of secretary in November 2016.
Ambassador Kamrul served as Bangladesh high commissioner to Canada from 2012 to 2016. He was also concurrently accredited as Bangladesh's ambassador to Argentina, Cuba, Jamaica and Venezuela during this time.
Also, he was the dean of the Asia Pacific Diplomatic Group in Canada
He was the high commissioner of Bangladesh to Singapore from 2007 to 2012.
Ambassador Kamrul served as the dean of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps in Singapore and was senior vice-president of Club 200, a platform of resident ambassadors and representatives of corporate houses in Singapore.
Read more: Russia keen to further cooperation with Bangladesh and other grain-importing countries
Bangladesh, France keen to build partnership in aviation, space, aerospace technology
Bangladesh and France have reasserted their will to build a "key partnership" in aviation, space and aerospace technology.
The countries affirmed their commitment to extend cooperation in political relations, development cooperation, trade and investment, defence cooperation, cooperation in science and technology including ICT and agriculture, cultural cooperation; cooperation in archaeology, diplomatic training in France, an exchange programme between diplomatic training academies and consular cooperation.
Bangladesh and France held the first bilateral political consultations Thursday in Dhaka.
The Bangladesh delegation at the consultations was led by Kazi Russel Pervez, director general (West Europe and European Union) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The French delegation was headed by Bertrand Lortholary, director for Asian Affairs of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy and representatives from different ministries of the Bangladesh government also joined the consultations.
Both sides also shared their views on various regional and international issues, including the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, cybercrime, counter-terrorism and violent extremism.
They had an extensive exchange of views on the war in Ukraine and reaffirmed their paramount attachments to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Both sides recognised the absolute priority of addressing climate change-related issues in their bilateral cooperation as well as in multilateral fora.
They highlighted the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and exchanging business delegation.
The Bangladesh side invited France to enhance investment in the country, particularly in food and agro-processing, advanced manufacturing, consumer electronics, automotive, leather, and pharmaceuticals.
The two sides discussed the potential for deepening cooperation in research and development, especially in medical and environmental sciences.
They also acknowledged the prospects for strengthening cooperation in aviation security and maritime domain awareness.
The French side assured Bangladesh of appropriate consideration to support its bid for a GSP+ facility beyond 2029 under the EU's new GSP Regulation, in conjunction with EU institutions and member states.
Both Bangladesh and France acknowledged the value of sustained and substantive cooperation in relevant regional and multilateral fora, including the UN, ASEAN Regional Forum, and IORA.
The countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2022, and the launching of the bilateral political consultations will serve as a hallmark of their friendship, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the state visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to France in November 2021 at the invitation of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, both sides highlighted their shared will to develop and deepen all aspects of their partnership through regular political consultations for strategic guidance.
Both sides agreed that the second bilateral political consultations would take place in Paris.
Read more: France keen to work together with Bangladesh for economic, social benefits
India's chief of Defense Staff has courtesy conversation with Bangladesh Army chief over phone
Indian chief of Defence Staff had a courtesy conversation with the Bangladesh Army chief over the phone on Thursday night.
This is the first time that General Anil Chauhan had a courtesy conversation with Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed after taking charge as India's chief of Defence Staff, the Inter Services Public Relation Directorate said.
During the conversation, they hoped for more training cooperation between the armies of the two friendly countries.
Also, the Bangladesh Army chief invited India's chief of Defence Staff to visit Bangladesh.
The conversation is expected to boost relations between the armies of the countries, the Inter Services Public Relation Directorate said.
Read more: Bangladesh, India sign first contract under US$500 million defence LoC
Senior US official Fotovat to discuss women, peace, security issues in Bangladesh
Senior official to the US Secretary of State in the office of "Global Women's Issues" Kat Fotovat will begin her four-day Bangladesh visit on January 20.
Fotovat will participate in the 10th Commencement Ceremony of the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Chattogram from January 21 to 22. She will deliver remarks and meet with students and faculties.
On January 23, Fotovat will engage with members of government and civil society in Dhaka to discuss women, peace, and security issues in Bangladesh and the region, according to the office of the Spokesperson at the US Department of State.
She will participate in an inauguration event for the Reducing Child Marriage – Skills Training for Advancing Resources project, a partnership between the US Embassy and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC).
This programme will provide vocational training for 14-18-year-old girls and young women – especially those most at risk of a child, early, and forced marriage – from the most climate-vulnerable localities.
Since 2017, the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) has supported scholarships for young women from conflict zones in Asia and the Middle East to attend university at AUW.
With S/GWI support, AUW aims to produce the next generation of women leaders for Asia and the Middle East by providing a high-quality education to women of great potential who would otherwise have few opportunities. Programming includes opportunities for training in leadership, human rights, and organisational and financial management, as well as practical internship experiences.
Recently, through the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund (GEEA) Fund, S/GWI and the Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor have provided additional resources for an AUW scholarship programme for 104 young Afghan women who otherwise would not be able to pursue higher education due to the Taliban's edicts closing secondary schools and universities to women.
In support of the recently launched US Strategy on Global Women's Economic Security, the GEEA fund, managed by the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Hub and implemented by USAID and the Department of State, advances economic security for women and girls by increasing their access to resources, services, and leadership opportunities and by addressing the barriers that limit their ability to participate fully in the economy.
Read more: US Official: Free, fair elections “must include a level playing field for all”
Fotovat leads a team of gender experts promoting gender equality efforts including support of women, peace, and security, countering violent extremism, promoting women's economic empowerment, and combating gender-based violence.
She has over 20 years of experience advocating gender and human rights globally, specifically in conflict and post-conflict settings.
Read more: 'Frequent visits' by US officials a good development: Foreign Minister
New prog “Welcome Corps” launched enabling Americans to sponsor refugees
The US Department of State, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, has launched the Welcome Corps, a new private sponsorship program that will enable Americans to sponsor refugees arriving through the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), directly support their resettlement, and make a difference by welcoming these new neighbors into their communities.
This program invites Americans to be partners and guides to refugees as they build new lives in the United States and help them realize their full potential.
“In the face of unprecedented global displacement, the United States will continue to lead the international community in humanitarian response, including refugee resettlement,” said US Department of State Antony J. Blinken on Thursday.
Read more: Laubacher's visit underscores US commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh: US Embassy
By launching the Welcome Corps, he said, they build on a proud tradition of providing refuge and demonstrate the spirit and generosity of the American people as we commit to welcoming refugees in need of their support.
“In the program’s first year, our goal is to mobilize at least 10,000 Americans to step forward as private sponsors and offer a welcoming hand to at least 5,000 refugees from around the world,” Blinken said.
The Welcome Corps will build on the “extraordinary response” of the American people over the past year in welcoming our Afghan allies, Ukrainians displaced by war, Venezuelans, and others fleeing violence and oppression.
Read more: Human rights are at the center of US foreign policy: US Embassy
The Welcome Corps is the boldest innovation in refugee resettlement in four decades and it is designed to strengthen and expand the capacity of the USRAP by harnessing the energy and talents of Americans from all walks of life desiring to serve as private sponsors – ranging from members of faith and civic groups, veterans, diaspora communities, businesses, colleges and universities, and more.
Will continue to work toward resolution of Rohingya issue: Japan
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori had his first official visit to the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar reiterating that Japan will continue to work toward the resolution of the Rohingya issue.
Witnessing the ongoing activities in the field, Ambassador Iwama said this is his first visit to the Rohingya camps, and he could see the current situation with his own eyes.
Read more: Over 3,500 desperate Rohingya attempted deadly sea crossings in 2022