Foreign-Affairs
Dalela next Ambassador of India to Bhutan
The government of India has appointed Sudhakar Dalela as the next Ambassador of India to the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan.
Also read: Sudhakar Dalela likely to be next Indian envoy to Bangladesh
Dalela, currently Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of India, Washington, is expected to take up the new assignment shortly, said the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday.
Bangladesh observes day of state mourning for Abe
Bangladesh on Saturday observed state mourning showing deep respect to its true friend and Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was assassinated on Friday while delivering a campaign speech.All the government, semi-government, autonomous and private institutions and Mission abroad kept Bangladesh’s national flag at half-mast demonstrating the deep respect of Bangladesh towards Japan.President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and many other people conveyed condolence messages to the government of Japan standing by the side of the mourning people of Japan at this time of most unexpected misfortune.People of Japan sincerely appreciate the deepest condolence by the government and people of Bangladesh, said the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka on Saturday.
Read: PM conveys condolences at losing 'statesman' Abe
Bangladesh joins Climate Action Champions Network; seeking applications
Bangladesh has joined the newly formed regional coalition named "Climate Action Champions Network" (CACN).
GenLab from Bangladesh alongside Observer Research Foundation (ORF) from India, Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF) from Sri Lanka, and Institute For Strategic And Social Economic Research (ISSR) from Nepal, in partnership with the U. S. State Department of the United States Government, announced the launch of the CACN initiative.
Applications are now being accepted from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
GenLab is leading the programme components in Bangladesh with support from the U.S Embassy in Dhaka and inviting applications from all over Bangladesh. The application ends on July 15 (to apply & learn more: https://www.orfonline.org/climate-action-champions-network).
CACN aims to harness the potential of the youth in the region by bringing together 100 individuals from the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, for over 12 months to discuss and deliberate about creating a climate action vision for South Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
The objective of the programme is to inspire the South Asian young leaders to champion an ambitious climate action agenda in their respective countries and the wider Indo-Pacific region using an in-depth thematic understanding of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Recently a pre-launch strategic coordination meeting among the implementing organizations took place in Delhi, India.
Representatives from all implementing organizations, respective country embassies, and higher officials from the U. S. Department of States were present during the meeting.
Ratul Dev, Executive Director of GenLab along with senior officials Ishrat Binte Rouf and Jahirul Islam Asif attended the meeting.
Also read: Climate concerns grow as US helps Europe replace Russian gas
PM conveys condolences at losing 'statesman' Abe
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on behalf of the people of Bangladesh and herself, has extended deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies at the most tragic demise of the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who succumbed to his injuries after being shot twice from close range during a campaign rally in the southern Japanese city of Nara.
The prime minister in a letter addressed to her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio, wrote: "At this time of great distress, we recollect with the deepest gratitude his (Abe's) immense contributions to elevating the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and Japan to a new comprehensive partnership during his tenure as the Prime Minister of Japan."
Read: Bangladesh to observe state mourning Saturday paying respect to Abe
Furthermore, Sheikh Hasina stressed that the passing away of a 'statesman' like Mr. Abe is not only a loss for Japan but also for the entire world because of his leadership, thought, vision, and wisdom, said a press release of the PMO Press Wing.
"The People of Bangladesh join me in standing by the side of the mourning people of Japan at this time of most unexpected misfortune. We offer our prayers for the courage and fortitude of the bereaved friendly people of Japan and family members of the late Mr. Abe," said the Bangladesh premier.
Alvaro Lario to lead response to global food crisis as new IFAD President
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has appointed its top finance executive, Alvaro Lario, to be its next president.
Through the appointment, IFAD has chosen a champion of private sector investments to lead the UN agency into battle against a global food security crisis triggered by war in Ukraine, climate change and the economic shock of COVID-19.
Lario will take office on 1 October and serve a four-year term.
Read: IFAD Member States to appoint next President July 7
He succeeds Gilbert Houngbo who has led the organisation since 2017.
Lario, IFAD’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and an Associate Vice-President for financial operations since 2018, pledged to double IFAD’s impact on rural poor communities by 2030.
“We have the institutions to tackle poverty, we have the know-how to reduce inequality, what we need is to mobilise resources and join forces,” he told delegates from 177 member states attending the election held at IFAD’s Rome-based headquarters on Thursday.
“We know that ODA (Official Development Assistance) and ODA of agriculture will not be enough. Due to the war in Ukraine small-scale producers globally are suffering the current disruptions of food systems. This is one additional shock on top of the climate disasters and unequal recovery from COVID-19, and poor communities are disproportionally affected,” he added.
Lario committed to scale-up investments in climate resilience and climate-smart agriculture.
“Climate-smart agriculture and climate adaptation will become increasingly important to break the cycle of poverty, inequality, conflict and forced migration. IFAD needs to act urgently and partner with climate liked-minded institutions to support small scale producers and poor rural communities adapt to climate shocks,” said Lario.
Lario also stressed that “it will not be possible to reach the SDGs without harnessing the power of women and the energy of the youth.”
He promised to prioritize programmes that put women at the centre.
As IFAD CFO, Lario has led IFAD’s charge to mobilize private sector engagement in its battle against hunger and poverty, and on behalf of the world’s poorest rural communities.
“As IFAD President, I will ensure that IFAD connects the huge amount of global savings from impact investors and pension funds to tackle poverty in rural poor communities. We need to make sure that we use our AA+ credit rating to mobilize more funds. This is a unique competitive advantage in the UN system,” said Lario.
Read: IFAD: Integration of nutrition in all dev interventions sought
Under his stewardship, IFAD became the first United Nations Fund and the only UN body and specialized agency other than the World Bank Group to enter the capital markets and obtain a credit rating, enabling the Fund to expand resources mobilization efforts to the private sector. Lario has 20 years of experience in the private sector, academia and international financial institutions, including developing local capital markets and investments in emerging markets at the International Financial Corporation of the World Bank group.
Lario will take up the IFAD helm amid mounting challenges in agriculture and notably for smallholders who are both key to global food security and extremely vulnerable to shocks.
Rising global food, energy and fertilizer prices linked to the war in Ukraine now threaten to trigger a global food crisis and push millions more rural people into hunger and poverty.
IFAD’s role in building resilience among small-scale farmers who produce a third of the world’s food have made it a leader in the drive for global food security.
Recently the Fund launched its Crisis Response Initiative to ensure that small-scale farmers can meet their immediate needs for fertilisers, seeds and technology and ensure the next harvests in 22 priority countries affected by commodity price hikes.
New figures published yesterday by five UN agencies including IFAD showed the world falling further behind in efforts to end hunger and poverty in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition report showed that hunger globally rose to as many as 828 million in 2021, an increase of about 150 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
FM Momen mourns Abe's death
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has expressed deep shock at the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a deadly gun attack.
In a condolence message, Momen said, "Shinzo Abe was a close friend of mine and he was also a friend of Bangladesh."
Read: Japan ex-leader Shinzo Abe assassinated while giving speech
Momen described the shooting on Shinzo Abe as "disgusting" and said that in his death, the people of Japan had lost an extraordinary leader, while Bangladesh had lost a true friend.
He wished eternal peace to the departed soul of Shinzo Abe and extended his deepest sympathies to the members of his bereaved family and the people of Japan.
Abe, 67, died after being shot while giving a campaign speech in southern Japan on Friday.
He immediately collapsed and was seen bleeding before he was taken to hospital.
The attack on Shinzo Abe, the man who remained Japan's longest-serving prime minister, shocked the entire world.
Momen condemned Friday’s shooting on Japan’s former leader.
Read: Japan ex-leader Shinzo Abe apparently shot, in heart failure
World leaders expressed shock and anguish over Friday’s shooting.
Police have arrested a suspected gunman at the scene.
The attack was a shock in one of the world’s safest countries with some of the strictest gun control laws.
'Bangladesh's progress in 50 years extraordinary'
Notwithstanding political crises or natural calamities at different times in the past 50 years, Bangladesh has turned around incredibly.
The encouraging words came from none other than renowned economist and former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Dr Atiur Rahman.
"Despite many challenges, Bangladesh has surpassed many neighbouring countries in terms of competency," he said at a seminar on Bangladesh’s progress in 50 years.
Also read: Bangladesh elected to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage committee for 4 years
Ambassador Shahidul Islam presents credentials to Dominican President
M Shahidul Islam, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States of America, has recently presented his letter of credence to President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader.
Ambassador Islam, based in Washington DC, is also concurrently accredited to Belize, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guyana and Haiti to represent Bangladesh.
The ceremony for the presentation of credentials took place at the National Palace in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, said the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington DC on Friday.
Read: Shahidul Islam new Bangladesh Ambassador to USA
Vice President Raquel Pena de Antuna and Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez were present.
Islam conveyed the greetings of the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to the President of the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican President welcomed the Ambassador, appreciated Bangladesh’s strong economic performance and expressed keen interest to strengthen his country’s relations with Bangladesh.
Ambassador Islam also held a separate meeting with the Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez on Thursday and discussed bilateral cooperation including the proposals for signing three agreements relating to the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) agreement on visa waiver for the holders of diplomatic and official passports as well as to establish a Joint Working Group on the promotion of trade, investment.
The Dominican Foreign Minister expressed hope to visit Bangladesh next year.
The Ambassador was accompanied by Counsellor Md Mahmudul Islam and Honorary Consul of Bangladesh to Dominican Republic Joan Gonzalez.
Sultana Laila, Ito Naoki receive Bangabandhu Medal for Diplomatic Excellence
On behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen Thursday conferred the "Bangabandhu Medal for Diplomatic Excellence" to the Bangladesh ambassador to Poland and the Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the function online.
The awards were handed over when the newly constructed eight-story building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was formally inaugurated by the prime minister online.
Read: Naoki, Sultana to be honoured with "Bangabandhu Medal" for diplomatic excellence
Dhaka's zero-tolerance policy on discrimination, violence against religious minorities highlighted in London Conf
Bangladesh has highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s zero-tolerance policy on discrimination or violence against religious minorities as it attended the '2022 International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief' in London.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammed Faridul Haque Khan delivered the country statement at the conference hosted by the UK government on July 5-6, according to Bangladesh High Commission in London.
In 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman founded a democratic and secular people’s republic, the spirit of which was destroyed by the communal forces following the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, said the State Minister.
Also read: Remain cautious about US to protect Bangladesh's RMG: Chinese envoy