Foreign-Affairs
Umrah e-visa: Biometric data must for pilgrims from Bangladesh, 4 other countries
Umrah pilgrims from five countries including Bangladesh must provide their biometric data, including “fingerprints” in order to get an electronic Umrah visa, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced.
The four other countries are the UK, Tunisia, Kuwait and Malaysia.
Read more: Age limit for Hajj pilgrims may be lifted from next year: State Minister
Interested pilgrims will have to use the Saudi Visa Bio app that allows for visa registration via fingerprints and selfie biometrics to attend significant Muslim pilgrimages, reports The Gulf News.
The new app delivers on a commitment made by the Saudi government late last year to allow biometrics enrolment through mobile devices so pilgrims to Mecca can avoid visiting visa centres in person, and makes the country one of the first in the world to accept biometrics by mobile for visa issuance.
Read more: How to Perform Umrah from Bangladesh?
In February 2022, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) released an electronic passport with a chip that stores the user’s biometrics for authentication purposes.
Bangladesh International Travel and Tourism Expo draws to close
The first Bangladesh International Travel and Tourism Expo that started Thursday to boost the country's tourism industry and showcase it to global tourists drew to a close Saturday at a Dhaka hotel.
The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) organised the three-day expo at Bangabandhu International Conference Center.
According to organisers, airlines, hospitals, travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, resorts and other travel and tourism-related service organisations of more than 15 countries including India, Malaysia, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Oman, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Azerbaijan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and the UAE, joined the expo.
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun was present as the chief guest and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen as the special guest at the closing ceremony.
Francisco de Asís Benítez Salas, ambassador of Spain, Ito Naoki, ambassador of Japan, Haznah Md Hashim, high commissioner of Malaysia, Pham Viet Chien, ambassador of Vietnam, Ghanshyam Bhandari, ambassador of Nepal, were also present.
At the event, the industries minister announced that the Bangladesh International Travel and Tourism Expo 2023 will be held from December 1 to 3.
Read more: FBCCI partners with CNN to promote trade, investment opportunities in Bangladesh globally
Sylhet-Silchar Festival to boost ties with India's north-east: Momen
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said engagements such as the first Sylhet-Silchar Festival 2022 will boost Bangladesh's ties with India's north-east.
The prime ministers of both countries have emphasised building a common platform of understanding and cooperation to further strengthen Bangladesh-India ties, he added.
The foreign minister is attending the first-of-its-kind two-day Silchar-Sylhet Festival 2022, which was inaugurated on December 2 in Silchar, in India's north-eastern state of Assam.
The peace and stability in Bangladesh are also helping Indian states neighbouring Bangladesh, Momen said on the sidelines of the festival.
Sylhet and Silchar have shared close cultural ties for ages. The festival, which aims at boosting bilateral ties, is being organised by India Foundation in association with the Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies. It coincided with the 75th year of India's independence and the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's liberation.
Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, minister of state for external affairs of India, met Momen, Saturday on the sidelines of the festival.
Read more: Momen inaugurates ‘Bangabandhu Corner’ and ‘Bangabandhu garden’ at NIT, Silchar
They discussed issues of mutual bilateral interest and appreciated the joint efforts in arranging the festival.
Lawmakers Iqbalur Rahim, Gazi Mohammad Shahnewaz; Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Mustafizur Rahman, and former foreign secretary Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury were present at that time.
Read more: 'Time for Indian businesses to focus more on Bangladesh'
'Time for Indian businesses to focus more on Bangladesh'
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said the business communities of both Bangladesh and India should draw close and play their due role in fostering mutual prosperity and economic advancement of their peoples.
"Time is ripe for the Indian business community to focus more on Bangladesh and take advantage of its economic growth, cheaper cost and huge consumer base," he said.
Momen said both the governments are sincerely exploring the avenues to further facilitate their trade and investment relations and have agreed to introduce negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The Foreign Minister was speaking as the chief guest at a session titled "Trade and Commerce" at the police ground in Silchar, Assam that was chaired by Kambhampati Hari Babu, Governor of the state of Mizoram, India
Read more: Momen inaugurates ‘Bangabandhu Corner’ and ‘Bangabandhu garden’ at NIT, Silchar
Chandra Mohan Patowary, Minister for Environment and Forests, Act East Policy Affairs and Welfare of MinoritiesGovernment of Assam, India and Mustafizur Rahman, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India also spoke.
Momen said Bangladesh is India’s most important development and trading partner.
"India receives the highest number of tourists and medical patients from Bangladesh. Thousands of Indian nationals are working in Bangladesh, contributing to both the economies," he said.
"I am confident that the deep bonds of friendship existing between Bangladesh and India shall continue to grow and flourish," Momen said.
The India Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India organized the session at the Silchar-Sylhet Festival.
Read more: Bangladesh delegation led by FM Momen attends 1st Silchar-Sylhet Festival-2022
Momen said Bangladesh is uniquely located to enable Indian investors to export their products to not only to the North Eastern States of India, but also to Nepal, Bhutan, and to South East Asian countries.
On the other hand, he said, geographical proximity makes the North East Region lucrative for Bangladesh to invest in small and medium scale sectors like food-processing industries, agro-based industries, IT sector, and forest-based and tourism based industries.
"I would urge Indian investors to consider possible investments in infrastructure projects, manufacturing, in energy and transport sectors. Indian investors and business houses can set up industries in Bangladesh through Buy-Back arrangements by reducing time, cost and resources," said the Foreign Minister.
Momen inaugurates ‘Bangabandhu Corner’ and ‘Bangabandhu garden’ at NIT, Silchar
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen inaugurated ‘Bangabandhu Corner’ and ‘Bangabandhu Garden’ at the APJ Abdul Kalam Learning and Resource Center of India’s National Institute of Technology (NIT), Silchar situated in Assam State on Saturday.
Later, Momen attended a discussion and cultural program held at the institute’s Bhupen Hazarika Auditorium as the chief guest, where he thanked the Indian government for honoring Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Read more: Bangabandhu corners are not just rooms with pictures, books: Momen
“Through the establishment of Mujib Corner at South Asia’s largest digital library, the students of NIT will get a chance to know more about the life, struggles and achievements of Bangabandhu. Besides, the students will also learn about Bangladesh’s long struggle for freedom and India’s contribution during the Liberation War of Bangladesh,” Momen said.
"Lack of full implementation of CHT accord is impacting indigenous women and girls gravely"
Non-implementation of Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord since it was signed 25 years ago has severely threatened the culture and identity of the region’s indigenous population, and violated their human rights, a UN expert said on Saturday.
Marking the anniversary of the signing on 2 December 1997, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Francisco Cali Tzay, issued a statement.
“The non-implementation of the accord signed between the Government and the Parbtya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS - Indigenous Peoples political party) has left the Indigenous Peoples vulnerable, marginalised, and deprived of determining their own development, as they are entitled to in the accord.
The provision in the accord to return illegally occupied land and setting up a land dispute resolution commission has not been fully implemented, temporary military camps have not been withdrawn, and the rehabilitation of indigenous refugees and internally displaced IPs in their respective lands have also not been provided,” said the statement.
Also read: 'Full implementation' of CHT Peace Accord needs 2 more years: Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing
“I have been continuously receiving news and information from different sources about the gross and systematic human rights violations against the Indigenous Peoples, including the PCJSS members who signed the accord, Indigenous human rights defenders and Indigenous women and girls. The repeated effort over the year to grab Indigenous Peoples’ land in the name of development, tourism, and eco-forest for national and international companies and other vested interests also disrespects the accord,” it said.
“I’m seriously concerned over the rise of violence against indigenous women and the culture of impunity that prevails. Lack of full implementation of the accord is impacting indigenous women and girls gravely. Violence against them is being used as a tool to evict indigenous people from their land. Indigenous women and girls are rarely getting justice. Their freedom of movement is shrinking every day. Moreover, they are also facing violence, harassment, and oppression from their male counterpart as a result of non-implementation of the accord in the community,” it added.
“Honesty, sincerity, dialogue, good faith and mutual trust are indispensable for implementing the CHT accord. I urge the Government of Bangladesh to respect its commitments made at the UN and at national level, and move the full implementation forward through full, meaningful and effective participation of the Indigenous Peoples.”
US Asst Secretary Noyes in Bangladesh to discuss refugee, migration issues
US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Julieta Valls Noyes is on a five-day visit to Bangladesh (December 3-7).
In Bangladesh, Assistant Secretary Noyes will meet with government officials to express US' gratitude for generously hosting Rohingyas fleeing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, said the US Department of State on Saturday.
She will meet with non-governmental and international organization partners to highlight the US commitment to supporting the Rohingya refugee response and impacted host communities.
Following her Bangladesh trip, she will be in Thailand from December 7-10. There Assistant Secretary Noyes will meet with senior government officials as well as non-governmental and international organization partners to discuss refugee protection and humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations in Thailand and continued support for humanitarian partners.
Also read: US assistant secretary Sison to visit Bangladesh soon
Julieta Valls Noyes, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, became Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration on March 31, 2022.
Previously, she served as Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Foreign Service Institute from 2018-2021.
Bangladesh delegation led by FM Momen attends 1st Silchar-Sylhet Festival-2022
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen reached Silchar, Assam on Friday to attend the two-day "Silchar-Sylhet Festival - 2022."
Bangladesh delegation led by Foreign Minister Momen crossed the Shewla Land Port at Sylhet border on Friday morning.
Foreign Minister Momen and the other members of the Bangladesh delegation were welcomed by the Indian authority at Sutarkandi ICP.
Read: Khalid seeks support for Bangladesh's greener maritime industry initiatives at IMO
After reaching at Sutarkandi border in Indian part, the Foreign Minister expressing his deep satisfaction said, "After 50 years, I am priviledged to cross the Bangladesh-India border through Shewla-Sutarkandi and myself and my delegation are pleased with the cordial welcome they extended to us."
Thanking Indian authority, Momen said, "They were very warm and friendly and my delegation felt at home."
The Foreign Minister said, "This is a historic event as two neighbors can get together in an atmosphere of hopes and aspirations."
He also thanked the Border Integrated Check post of Sutarkandi, India for their excellent arrangement.
Read: Chinese Embassy opens online condolence book to pay tribute to Jiang Zemin
The Foreign Minister has been invited as the chief guest at the events organized on the occasion of the '1st Silchar-Sylhet Festival - 2022' being held on December 2-3 at Silchar, Assam.
The inaugural session of the festival was held on Friday evening followed by cultural programme.
On the second day of the festival (Saturday) a number of events titled; Panel Discussion on Trade and Commerce, Tribal & Culinary Festival, Panel Discussion on "Our Rivers, Our Water, Our Climate," Festival of Language & Literature etc. are scheduled to be held.
Among the members of Bangladesh delegation Iqbalur Rahim, MP, Gazi Mohammad Shahnawaz, MP, Mohibur Rahman Manik, MP, former Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury, business leaders, political dignitaries and media representatives from Sylhet are attending the festival.
Khalid seeks support for Bangladesh's greener maritime industry initiatives at IMO
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has called on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and major maritime partners to strengthen their support for Bangladesh's initiatives towards a greener maritime industry in the country by 2050.
"To transition to a greener maritime industry, Bangladesh, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS) require financial, technological, and knowledge support from the IMO and major maritime partners," the state minister said at the "50 Years of Bangladesh Maritime Industry: The Road to Decarbonization" organised by the Bangladesh High Commission in London during the 128th IMO Council held in IMO headquarters in the same city.
"Bangladesh is currently partnering with the IMO in its SENSREC project phase-III for safe and environmentally responsible ship recycling; and has already contributed substantially to global decarbonisation by reducing, reusing, and recycling steel as the world's leading ship recycling nation," Khalid said.
Read: Maritime connectivity: Maldives to establish direct shipping line with Chattogram
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the IMO Saida Muna Tasneem said, "The government under the pro-climate leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set a vision and a mission for decarbonisation of the country's shipping sector by 2050 in line with initial IMO GHG reduction strategy."
The Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to IMO cited some studies including a UNCTAD report which showed evidence that Bangladesh alone, as a major ship recycling country, reduces around 2000kg CO2 per metric ton of steel recycled, contributing significantly to decarbonisation to the maritime industry.
She called upon the IMO to initiate pilot projects for Bangladesh's maritime sector to introduce new technologies for greener shipping in the country's government and private shipping sectors.
Read: Thailand eyes FTA; shipping routes with Bangladesh
At the event, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim commended the Bangladesh government for improving the country's ship recycling, environmental and safety standards. He also assured the IMO's continuous support to Bangladesh in its transition to a greener shipping industry.
Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways and the head of the Indian delegation to the IMO Council Sanjeev Ranjan called for the full restoration of water connectivity between Bangladesh and India, which would be a significant step forward towards decarbonisation.
Bangladesh Commodore Md Nizamul Haq, director-general of the Department of Shipping, presented the keynote paper on Bangladesh's roadmap to achieving a greener shipping industry.
Ambassador and Permanent Representation of Brazil to International Organizations in London Marco Farani, Alternate Permanent Representative of Japan to IMO Kohei Iwaki, Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK Samantha Pathirana and Deputy Director of IMO Tian Bing Huang participated in the panel discussions.
Read: Bangladesh, Portugal to sign MoU to establish direct shipping links
Following the event, a lunch reception was hosted by the Bangladesh delegation where Khalid announced Director General of IMSO Moin Ahmed as Bangladesh's candidate for secretary general at the IMO elections in 2023.
1971 loss a ‘military failure’, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal says after ex army chief called it ‘political failure’
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said the breakup of the country that led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 was a “military failure”.
The "debacle had created many challenges" for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he added.
Read more: Work together to keep 1971 legacy alive: Indian envoy at 'Maitri Alumni Reunion'
Bilawal, also PPP chairman, made the comments on Wednesday at the Nishtar Park rally, organised to mark the 55th Foundation Day of his party, days after former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa called the "East Pakistan loss a political failure."
"When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took over the government, the people were broken and had lost all hope," he was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper.
"But he rebuilt the nation, restored the confidence of the people and finally brought our 90,000 troops back home who had been made prisoners of war due to 'military failure.' Those 90,000 soldiers were reunited with their families. And that all was made possible due to politics of hope... of unity... and inclusion," Bilawal added.
Read more: Imran Khan accuses Pak army of recreating 1971-like situation
Days before his retirement, General Qamar rejected that 92,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered in the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Qamar said: "I want to correct the record. The fall of East Pakistan was not a military but a political failure. The number of fighting soldiers was not 92,000, it was rather only 34,000, the rest were from various government departments."