Foreign-Affairs
Bangladesh@50: Water Story photo book launched in Netherlands
The Dutch Water Envoy, Henk Ovink, and Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands, Riaz Hamidullah, have launched a unique book capturing award-winning photos from young Bangladeshi and Dutch photographers in Delft.
Henk Ovink, who is also Sherpa for 2023 UN Conference on Water, stressed on people-focused transformation on outlook to water in every delta; and assured of Dutch support to Bangladesh’s water sector in decades ahead, said the Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague on Friday.
Read: Dutch Co. to invest $ 10.52 million in BEPZA’s Economic Zone
KOICA for strengthening community resilience progs in Bangladesh’s flood-prone regions
Bangladesh is exposed to a multitude of hazards for which the local people of vulnerable regions require special attention to enhance their resilience against impacts of hazards through an inclusive resilience approach, says Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
KOICA has partnered with a number of multilateral organizations and international non-governmental organizations to build community resilience and has been supporting the above-mentioned projects.
It primarily aims to enhance resilience of the vulnerable communities from flooding, cyclones, storms, earthquakes, etc. that have been the cross-cutting sectors of KOICA.
Read: KOICA to render pre-survey on introducing metro rail in Chattogram
Martin Raiser World Bank's new VP for S Asia
The World Bank has appointed Martin Raiser as its new Vice President for the South Asia Region.
He is an economist and development expert with almost two decades of experience at the World Bank Group.
As the regional Vice President for South Asia, Raiser will manage Bank relations with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and oversee a portfolio of projects, technical assistance and financial resources worth almost US$55 billion, said the global lending agency on Friday.
Read: Over $500m WB loan to modernise grids in Dhaka & Mymensingh
“The World Bank has been a steadfast partner in South Asia as the region faces multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Raiser.
“I look forward to working together with countries in the region to help address these challenges while laying the foundations and capitalizing on the opportunities for green, resilient and inclusive growth.”
Under Raiser’s leadership, the World Bank will continue to support the South Asia region to address different macro, health and humanitarian crises, while advancing human capital development, supporting climate resilience and facilitating regional integration and cooperation.
Raiser has held several leadership positions in the organization.
Prior to his current role, he served as the World Bank’s Country Director for China and Mongolia, and Director for Korea.
Read: WB okays $1.03 billion to help improve regional trade in Bangladesh, Nepal
Raiser has also held positions as the Country Director for Brazil, Türkiye, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova as well as Country Manager in Uzbekistan. Before joining the World Bank, Raiser worked for the Kiel Institute of World Economics and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, where he was Director of Country Strategy and Editor of the Transition Report.
A German national, Raiser holds a doctorate degree in Economics from the University of Kiel, Germany, and degrees in Economics and Economic History from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences.
His appointment is effective from July 1, 2022.
Foreign envoys remember those killed in Holey Artisan attack
Foreign envoys stationed in Dhaka on Friday paid homage to 22 people who lost their lives during the Holey Artisan Bakery attack on July 1, 2016.
To mark the sixth anniversary of the attack, Japan's Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas joined the Italian embassy in Dhaka in honoring the individuals who lost their lives.
Read: Holey Artisan Victim Faraaz's Heroism is Now on the Silver Screen
"We remember Abinta Kabir, a U.S.-Bangladeshi dual citizen and student at Emory University, as well as her Emory classmate Faraaz Hossain, who even when given the chance to save himself chose to remain with his friends," said the US embassy in Dhaka.
Japanese Embassy celebrates 50 years in Dhaka
The Embassy of Japan Thursday celebrated its 50 years in Dhaka.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen joined the function.
Japan recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign state on February 10, 1972, soon after its independence. The country opened its embassy in Dhaka on July 1, 1972.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki conferred commendations of the foreign minister to the Japanese Language and Culture programme of the Institute of Modern Languages and Department of Japanese Studies of the University of Dhaka and Matiur Rahman in recognition of their significant contribution to building the foundations of the current Bangladesh-Japan ties.
Ambassador Naoki also presented certificates of ambassador's commendation to NGO Ekmatra, Japanese music group Bajina Beat, and Tanaka Chizuru, owner of Japanese restaurant Nagasaki in Uttara, Dhaka.
Ambassador Naoki expressed his sincere appreciation to them for their great contribution to enriching the great friendship between Bangladesh and Japan.
The commendations of the ambassador are awarded to individuals and groups to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and their country.
UN Ocean Conf: Bangladesh reaffirms commitment to achieve SDG-14
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to achieve all targets relevant to Sustainable Development Goal-14 - conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Momen delivered the country statement at the plenary session of the 2nd UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon on Thursday.
Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh Ambassador to Portugal Tarik Ahsan and other officials were the delegation members accompanying the foreign minister in the conference.
Momen attached importance to marine science for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world’s marine environment and resources, helping to predict and respond to natural and anthropogenic events and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas.
He said Bangladesh settled the maritime boundary issues with both the neighbours under the able leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and is poised to collaboratively utilize the resources.
To eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, Momen said, the government of Bangladesh declared an area totaling about 8.8% of its Exclusive Economic Zone as the Marine Protected Areas and implemented it in its National Plan of Action in 2019.
The government has amended Bangladesh Ship Recycle Act 2018 and set a target of compliance of the Hong Kong Convention by 2023, he said.
Blue Economy: Dhaka calls for joint efforts to harness marine resources
Bangladesh has sought a joint blue economy approach to harness the untapped marine resources that can be useful in tackling poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, energy crisis and ecological imbalances towards strengthening the sustainable development process.
“Oceans are the potential and versatile resource-frontiers for humankind, but remains under-explored and unexploited,” said secretary of the Maritime Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam.
Bangladesh along with some other countries co-hosted the event titled “Fostering international and regional cooperation in support of the sustainable development of the blue economy in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS” organised by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 2nd UN Ocean Conference being held in Lisbon, Portugal.
Also read: Ecnec clears a Tk 1092-cr project to widen Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive
The vice-president of Tanzania, foreign and tourism minister of Tonga, minister of international development of Norway, ministers, high representatives and experts from the member states also attended the event, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Khurshed emphasized the need of fostering international and regional cooperation to develop strategies in support of the sustainable development of the blue economy in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.
He elaborated that states and organizations in developing regions may not have the capacity to develop and manage their own shared marine resources, as they lack the necessary information, expertise or the financial capacity to follow through with planning and operations.
External assistance can be valuable, and sometimes essential, in establishing shared international marine resources arrangements, Khurshed said.
Also read: Blue Economy Dev: Govt to take project on Tuna, similar pelagic fishing in deep Sea
Panelists opined that regional and international cooperation is crucial to develop marine scientific knowledge and research capacity to leverage the benefits offered by the blue economy.
They said transfer of technology can create enabling conditions in the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS states to participate effectively in existing and emerging ocean sectors of the blue economy. Representatives also viewed strongly that strategic partnership is necessary for harnessing the benefits of the blue economy.
The seminar was wrapped up with commitments to forging wider regional and international cooperation, devising mechanisms for technology transfer and financing the blue economy.
Analysts underline Middle East’s key importance to Bangladesh
The importance of the Middle East to Bangladesh in terms of geo-politics, geo-economy and geo-energy has been highlighted at a seminar here.
The region houses two of the holy mosques and key players of major significance to the Muslim Ummah, and thus Bangladesh, due to its religious Muslim majority and its OIC membership, does hold the region in high regard in terms of strategic significance, said analysts speaking at the event.
They said Bangladesh is also dependent on the Middle East for inward remittance so it needs to lean towards undertaking actionable policies to ensure its stronger footprint in the region and to help mitigate the turbulence that has befallen.
Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) and Dhaka Tribune hosted the BIPSS-Dhaka Tribune Roundtable titled, "The Changing Dynamics of the Middle East: Implications for Bangladesh'' at a city hotel on Wednesday.
Also read: 50 Years of Relations: Romania keen to deepen ties with Bangladesh
BIPSS President Major General (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan, Dhaka University Prof Lailufar Yasmin and Assistant Prof of the Department of Economics at East-West University Parvez Karim Abbasi spoke at the discussion.
They observed that the Middle East has been a hotbed of turbulence, conflict and insurgencies for decades.
Even after all these years of destruction and bloodshed, the chaos is not showing any sign of slowing down anytime soon.
As a matter of fact, the multifaceted phenomenon currently ongoing in the region is only becoming more complicated and dynamic.
The ever-changing landscape, with the already existing shaky governance in the Middle East region, tends to have implications on a global scale and spillovers beyond comprehension, said the speakers.
The roundtable was attended by diplomats, scholars, security experts, and youth representatives from various disciplines.
Muniruzzaman laid out how the power architecture inherited from the colonial rule in the Middle East had condemned the region to perpetual instability, leaving behind questionable borders and dissatisfied ethnic minorities, ultimately fueling state and non-state actors to challenge the existing state and territorial sovereignty.
Pondering the crisis in Lebanon, Lailufar Yasmin elaborated on the possible spillover across the region and also talked about the ongoing challenges and the role of hard and soft diplomacy in the Middle East.
She went on to shed some light on the crisis in Yemen, the post-election turmoil in Iraq and their overarching implications and discussed the growing instability in Palestine and how the world community has presumably forgotten about the nation itself.
She also focused on the fresh talks leading to the revival of the U.S-Iran Nuclear deal and the aftermath that will ensue following the revival.
Parvez Abbasi explained the underlying factors, interfaces, and different caveats concerning the geo-economic realities of the Middle East.
Also read: Bangladesh, Japan sign deals on ODA yen loan, grant aid
He talked about the rising tension within the Arab youth and how this factor can lead to the creation of "Arab Spring 2.0" and highlighted the key facets of the current Syrian Civil War and whether Syria will be able to reintegrate itself into the global system.
Abbasi analysed the different aspects of the energy transition that the world is going through and its overall implications on how it can potentially lead to the socio-economic fallout of the region.
50 Years of Relations: Romania keen to deepen ties with Bangladesh
Bangladesh and Romania on Wednesday celebrated the 50 years of diplomatic relations with a vow to further deepen the relations on bilateral and multilateral fronts.
“As we celebrate 50 years of Romania-Bangladesh diplomatic relations, Romania stands ready to continue developing and deepening our very good relations with Bangladesh at bilateral and multilateral level,” the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted.
Romania was one of the first European states to recognize newly independent Bangladesh in 1971.
The traditional bilateral relations attained a renewed dynamic during the last 2 years, said a media release.
This impetus was reflected also in the substantial development of the diplomatic dialogue as well as the exchange of visits.
The year 2021 marked the fostering of the bilateral relations with the Romania visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the invitation of his Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu.
The visit represented the most significant diplomatic contact of high ranking officials in the last 30 years between Romania and Bangladesh, said the media release.
The re-opening in October 2020 of Bangladesh’ Embassy in Romania was another important moment in order to re-launch the bilateral relations.
READ: Momen thanks Romania for issuing visas from Dhaka
In 2022 the Romanian side organised a three-month temporary consulate in Dhaka in order to facilitate the granting of working visas for the Bangladeshi citizens.
The current objectives of the bilateral relation comprise deepening of the political dialogue and the sectorial economic cooperation, the launching of a joint economic cooperation commission and the organisation of a business forum for the promotion of trade exchanges.
There are new perspectives for cooperation in the culture, education, labour and consular domains as well as the enhancing of the legal framework in education and economy.
Romania and Bangladesh share a significant potential for economic cooperation, digitalization, cyber security, IT, technological transfer, agriculture, food industry and transport, said the media release.
Romania granted 50 thousand euro through UNICEF Bangladesh plan “2020 Join Response Plan for Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis” for water and education infrastructure.
US Independence Day State fair celebration held paying tribute to Bangladesh
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Wednesday said America’s founding fathers expressed their desire to build “a more perfect union” and that is a challenge that Americans face every day with humility and confidence as they address weaknesses to their democracy.
“Independence Day in America is also a day of fun, a day for getting together with friends and family. A day for barbeques, parades, and fireworks,” he said.
The US envoy was addressing at the "Independence Day State Fair Celebration" at the American International School in the city.
“This year, as we celebrate 50 years of bilateral relations with Bangladesh, we pay tribute to another nation that emerged after a bloody war of independence. We pay tribute to a nation that has overcome great adversity,” said ambassador Haas.
Law Minister Anisul Huq joined the celebration as the chief guest. He hoped that the bilateral relations with the USA will flourish in the coming days and will certainly contribute to socioeconomic development of the two nations.
Apart from government to government relations, the Law Minister highlighted the growing people to people and business to business connectivity between the two countries.
READ: US stands by Bangladesh as a steadfast dev partner: Ambassador Haas
He said Bangladeshi diaspora across the USA act as an essential bridge between the two nations and there is growing number of students who are studying in the USA.
This year, ambassador Haas said, they decided to celebrate the Independence Day a bit more like they would back home - with jeans, with sliders and hotdogs, with deep-fried pickles and Oreos, with games, and with music. “And of course with all of you.”