Foreign-Affairs
SAF held in city with a call to accelerate momentum of sustainability in apparel industry
Policy makers, industry leaders, brands’ representatives and fashion campaigners from home and abroad gathered in Dhaka on Tuesday to accelerate the momentum of sustainability in Bangladesh apparel industry.
More than 50 speakers as well as 20 green growth exhibitors from over 20 countries participated in the 3rd edition of Sustainable Apparel Forum (SAF) organized by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) partnering with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Current important apparel sustainability issues such as climate action, environmental social and governance (ESG) and green finance, purchasing practices, due diligence and legislation, and circular economy were discussed at the five plenary sessions along with opening and closing plenaries of the SAF.
Also read:BGMEA claiming 100 percent salaries, bonuses paid to RMG workforce
Speakers of the SAF include Tipu Munshi, MP, Commerce Minister; Md. Atiqul Islam, Mayor, Dhaka North City Corporation and former president, BGMEA; Charles Whiteley, Ambassador & Head of delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh; Anne Van Leeuwen, ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh; Riaz Hamidullah, ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Faruque Hassan, president of BGMEA, Mohammad Hatem; executive president, BKMEA; Anna Athanasopoulou, head of unit for social economy & creative industries, European Commission; Barbara Bijelic, financial sector and regulatory engagement lead centre for responsible business conduct, OECD; Ian Cronin, community curator, platform shaping the future of advanced manufacturing & value chains, World Economic Forum; Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu, sectors engagement lead, UNFCCC; Pascal Brun, head of sustainability, H&M; Javier Santonja Olcina, regional head, Bangladesh & Pakistan, Inditex; Dr Mark Anner, founding director, Center for Global Workers’ Rights and also professor, Penn State University, USA; Ayesha Barenblat, founder and CEO, Remake; Najet Draper, vice president research, Better Buying; Gemma Verhoeven, team lead impact investments, Good Fashion Fund; Annabel Meurs, head of supply chain transformation, Fair Wear Foundation; and Tuomo Poutiainen, country director, Bangladesh, ILO.
Senior representatives from globally renowned recycling and renewable energy companies also joined as well as exhibited their sustainability and green technologies, products and solutions at the SAF.
The SAF also showcased opportunities for much-needed green financing in the industry.
Founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) Mostafiz Uddin said: “At this year’s SAF we have brought all the fashion stakeholders under one roof to accelerate the momentum of sustainability in Bangladesh apparel industry, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic which has had immense impact on global apparel supply chain.
This is high-level networking where it has been discussed how we can turn the needle so that the lofty sustainability goals of the industry so often talked about are translated into meaningful, practical actions, he said.
Atiqul Islam said the RMG industry of Bangladesh has been vigilant in ensuring the safety regulations, especially after the disastrous event of Rana Plaza.
He sought a collaborative approach to ensure a more ethical and sustainable industry.
Ambassador Anne Van Leeuwen said, “There has been significant improvements in the apparel industry of Bangladesh as per as safety and sustainability is concerned. However, there is still work to be done to promote sustainability in the sector for which stakeholders’ engagement and collaboration is the key.”
Also read: Bangladesh to retain fame as safe, sustainable apparel sourcing destination: BGMEA
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said Bangladesh has the highest number of green garment factories in the world.
“We believe that sustainability is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. We are committed to maintaining the excellence in social and environmental areas which we have already achieved, and we also focus on up-scaling our business capabilities.”
Stephanie Theirs-Ratcliffe, Director of European Brands and Retailers, Cotton Council International said sustainability is no longer an option; it is a must for the fashion industry now. “Cotton Council International is working to ensure the supply of sustainable cotton to the industry.”
BGMEA Director and managing director of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange Md. Mohiuddin Rubel said the global business landscape has been transformed to a new realism in recent years and sustainability has become the core area of concern.
“The Sustainable Apparel Forum (SAF) envisages becoming a global forum on sustainability established in Bangladesh to promote the sustainability agenda within the textile and apparel supply chain.”
USAID launches $20mn project to protect critical forests, wetland areas in Bangladesh
A new $20 million ecosystems project has been launched to protect critical forests and wetland areas in Bangladesh from degradation.
Planning Minister MA Mannan and USAID Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming Isobel Coleman jointly launched the new five-year project.
The launching ceremony was held in a city hotel on Tuesday afternoon.
Also read:USAID Deputy Administrator Coleman in Bangladesh
USAID Mission Director Kathryn Stevens also joined to launch the new project along with other senior government officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; and the Ministry of Land, including the Department of Fisheries, Department of Environment, and the Bangladesh Forest Department.
The project will bring together government agencies and local communities to protect critical ecosystems, and build resilience to climate change impacts in the Sundarbans Reserve Forest in Khulna, and forests and wetland ecosystems in Sylhet.
The project targets two key areas, including the Sundarbans mangrove forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the Royal Bengal tiger, and forest and freshwater wetland ecosystems of the Sylhet border region in northeastern Bangladesh.
The project will also help communities build long term climate resilience by adopting climate-smart agriculture approaches and learning business skills to diversify and increase their incomes, moving away from reliance on natural resources from forests for their livelihoods.
The new “Protibesh” programme builds on a long-standing partnership between USAID, the government of Bangladesh (GoB) and local community leaders to protect and sustainably manage the country's biologically rich landscapes and ecosystems.
Also read: USAID launches $5 mn project to empower women in RMG factories
Applying lessons learned from previous interventions to strengthen environmental governance and sustainable forest and wetland management, “Protibesh” will be locally led by community members and GoB counterparts, including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Land, and the Bangladesh Forest Department.
As a result of “Protibesh” conservation, and climate adaptation and mitigation activities, Bangladesh will be able to combat the effects of climate change, protect the country's critical natural resources a rich source of life and livelihoods for the people of Bangladesh and build resilience to climate induced natural disasters, said the USAID.
Over the past 25 years, USAID has worked closely with Bangladesh to combat climate change and strengthen environmental conservation.
Over this period, USAID has worked with local communities and government of Bangladesh officials to protect more than 2.5 million acres of wetlands and forest areas.
With Bangladesh among USAID target countries in USAID's Climate Strategy, USAID is working to substantially reduce carbon emissions and help countries adapt to the climate crisis.
US may influence ASEAN to persuade Myanmar to stop atrocities, take Rohingyas back: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has stressed that the US may influence the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members to persuade the Myanmar government to stop atrocities on its nationals and take the Rohingyas back to their land.
The issue came up when United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration Scott Turner met Momen at the Foreign Service Academy Monday.
The foreign minister appreciated the announcement of the US government to contribute $152 million under the Joint Response Plan (JRP) 2022 for the Rohingya crisis.
Isobel deeply appreciated Bangladesh for hosting such a large number of displaced people from Myanmar.
READ: Bangladesh keen to increase engagement with ASEAN: PM
There are potentials in Bhasan Char which need to be further developed, she said.
Isobel stressed improving the provision of basic education, livelihood, communication, and transportation facilities on the island.
Momen thanked USAID for their continued support for the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs), Bangladesh’s official designation for the Rohingyas.
As Bangladesh and the US celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Momen said he looks forward to 50 years of effective and robust partnership with the US.
He requested USAID to initiate a project to study the feasibility of the rehabilitation and forestation of the coastal embankments.
Bangladesh tops list of new countries to invest in: US delegation
The visiting delegation of the US-Bangladesh Business Council has said Bangladesh is top of their list of new countries to invest in.
The delegation said this to Prime Minister's Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman when he invited them to invest in "smart Bangladesh" Monday during a meeting in the capital.
"The US entrepreneurs are now investing in the energy sector, but I informed them about many other potential sectors," the PM's adviser said while talking with reporters after the meeting.
The business delegation will also consider attracting investment to the agriculture sector, he added.
Salman told the delegation that the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is setting up 100 economic zones across the country.
READ: Bangladesh seeks diversified investment from US
"We are setting up public, private and public-private partnerships, and country-based economic zones. Country specific economic zones have been set up for Japan, Korea, and China. The government is providing them with all the support they need," he said.
Salman also urged the entrepreneurs to invest in the zones.
The delegation from the US is visiting Bangladesh till May 11 to explore economic opportunities between the two countries.
Over 25 executives from across sectors like digital, energy, financial services, insurance, and agriculture are part of it.
The delegation of global business leaders met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at Foreign Service Academy in the afternoon.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas had a brief interaction with it Sunday.
Senior officers of the US Embassy in Dhaka and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bangladesh shared their briefing on high-level opportunities for stronger Bangladesh-US economic and commercial ties.
The purpose of the Council's first trade mission to Bangladesh is to renew old friendships and explore opportunities for new partnerships, said Jay R Pryor, vice-president (business development), Chevron.
Pryor, also inaugural board chair of the US-Bangladesh Business Council, said the US companies want to contribute to Bangladesh's impressive economic development.
Momen thanks Romania for issuing visas from Dhaka
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has thanked the Romanian government for issuing visas for Bangladeshis from Dhaka.
The Romanian Embassy in Delhi issued 580 visas for Bangladeshis in 2020, 2,869 in 2021 and 1,180 in 2022 (January to April 16).
Now Romania is issuing visas from Dhaka.
Also read: FM inaugurates Bangabandhu Gold Cup football tournament in Sylhet
"We are thankful to the Romanian government for their effective initiative of taking Bangladeshis after my fruitful meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu in October 2021," Momen said on Monday.
A good number of Bangladeshis are also going to Romania from the Middle East and Malaysia with valid work visas, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also read: No chance of Chinese debt trap: FM
Russia to provide internships to Bangladeshi doctors
The Russian Ministry of Health will provide internships to practising doctors from Bangladesh in the country's leading medical and scientific centres.
Russia will provide full funding for these practices and educational activities, according to the Russian Embassy in Dhaka.
Also read: BSMMC ICU in Faridpur suffer from shortage of doctors
Besides providing Bangladeshi specialists with living facilities at a minimum cost, language assistance is also being implemented.
The embassy also advised interested physicians to contact it to determine the basis for their internship, including the field of training (specialisation) and the list of required skills.
Also read: Fill 29 vacant doctors’ posts in prisons soon: HC
Bangladesh seeks diversified investment from US
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday encouraged US businesses to diversify their investments in Bangladesh beyond the energy sector.
Talking to reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, Momen noted the current US investment in Bangladesh is concentrated in the energy sector.
He said there are many potential areas where Bangladesh seeks foreign investment.
A delegation from the US, members of the US-Bangladesh Business Council, is visiting Bangladesh until May 11 to explore economic opportunities between the two countries.
Over 27 executives from across sectors like digital, energy, financial services, insurance, and agriculture are part of the business delegation.
Also read: No chance of Chinese debt trap: FM
The delegation met Momen at Foreign Service Academy on Monday afternoon.
The Foreign Minister noted that the US has a strong investment presence in Bangladesh in the traditional sectors such as energy, oil, gas, and mineral resources.
He stressed that there is a huge scope for the US investors to diversify their investment portfolio and funds, to invest in the emerging areas such as but not limited to, agro-processing, automobiles, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, information and communication technology and the blue economy.
The US business leaders appreciated the economic stride made by Bangladesh.
Bangladesh delegation begins 4-day visit to Meghalaya to celebrate Golden Jubilee of Liberation War
The government of India is hosting a visit of 25-member Bangladesh delegation to the Indian State of Meghalaya - from May 9-12.
The visit is part of the Golden Jubilee of 1971 Liberation War and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
This delegation comprises of 18 valiant freedom fighters who had trained in Meghalaya and fought the Liberation War in Sector 11.
Besides the freedom fighters, the delegation consists of Bangladeshis from other professions including journalism.
Author Amitav Ghosh lauds Bangladesh's climate innovations
Celebrated author and climate change activist Amitav Ghosh has appreciated Bangladesh's action to fight climate change challenges though he worries for his native West Bengal.
“In fact, Bangladesh has become a global leader in disseminating information in creating climate change resilience programmes. There are so many innovations,” Ghosh told The Times of India during a brief trip to his home in south Kolkata on Sunday.
Bangladesh has successfully addressed climate change issues by disseminating information, sending out regular alerts and bulletins, he said.
“In collaboration with a Dutch team, they created oyster beds around their islands to absorb the impact of sea-level rise. Bangladesh managed to ban single-use plastic successfully many years ago. Even the USA could not come close to banning single-use plastic,” the author said.
Read: Bangladesh considers continuation of learning of Rohingyas under Myanmar curriculum
Ghosh visits the Sundarbans regularly and has researched the area for his highly acclaimed novel "The Hungry Tide".
He won India's top literary award Jnanpith and has been nominated for Booker and Arthur Clarke awards for his novels "Sea Of Poppies" and "Glass Palace".
Ghosh, who has been travelling to the Sunderbans for the last 20 years, found a lot of facilities have reached the remotest parts.
“A lot of embankments were rebuilt and a lot of reinforcements happened.” But, he believes, embankment is not a solution to the problem of accelerated pace of climate change there. “Embankments cannot hold out against sea-level rise, nor can they hold out against storm surge,” he said.
The people of Sunderbans have ways to cope with the climate crisis, he pointed out. “Many families have kept a small plot in the interior, some sort of safe haven. Many others have migrated to the west coast. Many people of Sunderbans now work in Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. It is an enormous demographic shift,” he said.
Climate change is a global problem and the global system of governance has to address it. Ghosh felt the geopolitics of climate change is the biggest obstacle to a definite, collective global response to climate change issues.
Read: USAID Deputy Administrator Coleman in Bangladesh
“In Paris, agreement-rich countries pledged $100 billion for the climate resilience fund, not even a 10th of this was delivered, and rich countries boosted their defence expenditure by $1.2 trillion. So, behind the scenes, they are preparing for war. It became clearer with the Ukraine situation,” Ghosh said.
But Ghosh said he was seriously worried for his native Kolkata where his mother and sister continue to live.
"Kolkata is threatened for multiple reasons. A large part of the city is below sea level and embankments have protected the city for a very long time," he said, adding he was seriously worried over UN reports predicting 'catastrophic flooding' in southern Kolkata close to the Sundarbans.
He said West Bengal has built a lot of embankments and reinforced old ones in its part of the Sundarbans.
But Ghosh says embankments are not the solution because they cannot hold out against sea-level rise or against storm surges.
Myanmar Crisis: US, ASEAN urged to increase pressure on Myanmar military junta
Parliamentarians from Southeast Asia have urged the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to use their upcoming summit in Washington to increase pressure on the Myanmar military junta that has thrown the country into a state of chaos ever since its take-over in February last year.
The leaders of ASEAN and the United States have declared that they intend to enhance their strategic partnership for the mutual benefit of the peoples of ASEAN and the United States, according to a message received here from Jakarta.
In that spirit, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) advises that they should take concrete steps to address the inherent threat to peace, economic development and human security in Southeast Asia posed by the crisis in Myanmar.
ASEAN and the United States are set to convene a special summit to celebrate four and a half decades of the ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue Relations, on May 12-13 in Washington D.C.
This is the second special summit since 2016 and the first in person engagement for our leaders since 2017.
“Let this 45th anniversary of US-ASEAN relations be the occasion for the US and ASEAN governments to begin a new phase in their relations that truly benefits the people and puts human rights and the prevention of atrocities, in Myanmar and elsewhere, at the top of the agenda,” said Charles Santiago, a Malaysian lawmaker, who is also APHR chairperson.
They can no longer ignore the threat that the junta in Myanmar poses to the security of millions of people at the heart of Southeast Asia, Santiago added.
The current crisis is wholly and solely caused by the junta, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, which overthrew the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on 1 February 2021, according to APHR.
The Myanmar population has valiantly resisted the coup and, in order to impose its rule on the country, the military has committed widespread atrocities.
According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, these may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Over the last year, Myanmar’s military has completely ignored the ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus on Myanmar, which was agreed on in April 2021 and was also supported by the US, APHR said.
Violence continues unabated, there is no dialogue between the junta and forces resisting military rule, and humanitarian aid is not reaching the Myanmar people.
The Special Summit provides the perfect opportunity for the allies to work on coordinated measures to make Min Aung Hlaing and his junta pay the price for their failure to abide by an agreement they claimed to accept, said the APHR.
“Humanity is our common thread across the Pacific and across the world. We must stand together in the face of these atrocities, Asians and Americans, as we share the same concern for the people of Myanmar. Now is the time for ASEAN and the US to make their historic alliance truly meaningful to people in desperate need,” said Mercy Barends, an MP in Indonesia and an APHR Board Member.
They also urged the US and ASEAN governments to publicly meet with Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG), which represents the democratically elected government and receives support from the majority of the Myanmar people.
“We call on the United States and ASEAN to work together to urgently deliver the life-saving humanitarian aid that the Myanmar people need.”
APHR said they stand ready to assist the US and ASEAN as they formulate and carry out their policies to address this crisis, and will remain vigilant to ensure that the steps taken by the US and ASEAN truly serve to support the Myanmar people’s aspirations for human rights, peace and democracy.