Foreign-Affairs
National interests drive Bangladesh's foreign policy: Momen
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, now in Washington, has explained Bangladesh’s engagements with India and China noting that Bangladesh’s foreign policy, like the US one, is all about national interests.
He also shared historical background shedding light on the two different roles that India and China played during the War of Liberation in 1971.
The foreign minister answered a number of questions at a programme titled “A conversation with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister” on the lessons learned from the last 50 years and the path ahead for US-Bangladesh relations hosted by United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on Tuesday.
President and CEO of the USIP Lise Grande delivered opening remarks at the event moderated by Ambassador Teresita Schaffer.
As the Biden administration implements its Indo-Pacific strategy, Bangladesh’s relationships with neighbouring India and China suggest that it will draw increasing interest from US policymakers, according to USIP.
“We’ve rock-solid relations with India,” Momen said, adding that Bangladesh can never forget the support of India and its people during the 1971 War of Liberation.
Also read:RAB's importance to counterterrorism recognised but lifting sanctions to take time: Blinken
Japan: Lasting Rohingya solutions to help a free Indo-Pacific
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki has said finding lasting solutions of the Rohingya crisis will be conducive to their pursuit of “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
Japan will further cooperate with the relevant agencies for better living conditions of Rohingya refugees and host communities both in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, while making efforts for early repatriation to Myanmar.
Read: Bangladesh economy to grow by 6.9% in FY2021-22, says ADB
Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char island.
Recently, Ambassador Naoki visited Bhasan Char where over 25,000 “Rohingya” refugees reside. Yuho Hayakawa, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh also joined the two-day mission.
In January 2022, Japan funded as the first donor, US$ 2million to UNHCR and WFP to support their operations on Bhasan Char, said the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday.
This visit was aimed to overview the ongoing activities under Japan’s funding as well as explore possible bilateral assistance by JICA in the future.
The delegation moved from Chattogram port to Bhasan Char in LCU of Bangladesh Navy, along with over 2,000 Rohingya who relocated to the island on the same day of Japan’s visit.
RAB's importance to counterterrorism recognised but lifting sanctions to take time: Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has recognized the elite force RAB's important counterterrorism role, but stated that lifting sanctions and resuming training with American forces may take time.
During his bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the US State Department on Monday, Secretary Blinken appreciated that Bangladesh is reexamining the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Regarding the human rights related issues, both sides stressed upon the fact that there are some noticeable developments in the last four months.
Foreign Minister Momen emphasized that Bangladeshi law enforcers need training from the US on rules of engagement, and informed that there is an inbuilt system of inquiry in the RAB, which tracks all allegations, based on which a number of personnel have been penalized.
Depicting the context of the creation of RAB in 2004, he underscored that RAB has played a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s counter-terrorism efforts, which may be undermined by the sanctions.
Momen also sought the US Secretary of State’s attention and assistance for realizing the deportation of Rashed Chowdhury, one of the convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is residing in the US.
Also read:Dhaka, Washington economic ties to grow further: Momen
Appreciating ongoing works of the tripartite group on labour rights, he underscored that labour rights is an important determinant of Biden Administration’s foreign policy.
Noting that Bangladesh is not getting development finance due to the labour rights issues, he stressed upon resolving all the impediments.
He positively responded to the proposal of deepening maritime cooperation as two countries have the shared goal of a free and secure Indo-Pacific.
Two side discussed the whole gamut of US-Bangladesh bilateral relations.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister thanked the United States for providing more than 61 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine so far, the highest received by any country from the US.
Referring to the congratulatory letter from US President Joe Biden to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he appreciated that the warmth of the message.
Stating that Bangladesh has made huge socio-economic progress in last 50 years, Foreign Minister Momen termed the US as an all-time friend of Bangladesh in its journey towards development as the largest trading partner as well as the largest investor in accumulated term.
He appreciated that the US has finally determined that genocide took place in Myanmar in 2017, and opined that the US should suspend GSP and reimpose sanctions on Myanmar in order to put pressure so that Myanmar resolves the crisis.
He opined that the US needs to diversify investment portfolio, and can consider investing in the infrastructure sector in Bangladesh.
He depicted Bangladesh’s potential in terms of young population including around 700,000 IT professionals; and also proposed that there may be joint investment proposals in pharmaceutical sectors.
He also urged for assistance from the US in developing blue economy, opining that this may enable two countries to work together in building a secure Indo-Pacific region.
7.1mn people displaced by war in Ukraine: IOM
Over 7.1 million people have been internally displaced since the invasion of Ukraine, according to the second Ukraine Internal Displacement Report issued by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
This represents a 10 per cent increase in number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine since the first round of the survey on 16 March.
Also read: Ukraine says Russia preparing offensive in southeast
IOM conducted its second survey between 24 March and 1 April to gather insights into internal displacement and mobility, and assess needs in Ukraine to inform the overall humanitarian response.
“People continue to flee their homes because of war, and the humanitarian needs on the ground continue to soar,” said IOM Director General António Vitorino.
“Humanitarian corridors are urgently needed to allow the safe evacuation of civilians and ensure the safe transportation and delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid in order to rapidly assist those internally displaced.”
According to the survey, more than 50 per cent of displaced households have children, 57 per cent include elderly members, and 30 per cent have people with chronic illnesses.
Within the first month of the war, the income of displaced households dropped sharply.
While only 13 per cent of now displaced households reported a monthly income under 5,000 Ukrainian hryvnias (USD 170) prior to 24 February 2022, currently 61 per cent of them indicate that their household income has been lower than 5,000 hryvnias since the start of the war.
Over one third of displaced households indicate that they have had no income in the last month.
Cash and financial support, transportation, food, shelter, and hygiene items are among the most pressing needs for displaced people.
Access to medicines and health services remains the second most pressing need for both those displaced, and those staying at their places of residence.
Also read:Bangladeshi students caught up in Ukraine conflict offered opportunity to study in Russia
IOM teams on the ground continue to provide essential humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons and host communities, but more communities in need remain trapped.
Tangible support provided so far has included food, non-food and hygiene items, cash, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as information campaigns to help prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation and abuse.
The cessation of hostilities in Ukraine is of utmost importance, to allow for humanitarian access to all affected populations.
Russia keeps Rooppur plant's equipment shipment uninterrupted
Russia is continuing to deliver uninterrupted equipment shipment for the Rooppur nuclear power plant (NPP) in Bangladesh.
A cargo ship with a new batch of equipment for Rooppur NPP on board has left the Russian port of St Petersburg recently, Rosatom said in a statement on Tuesday.
Rosatom, working as a Russian contractor for the Rooppur NPP, said the equipment for units 1 and 2 of Bangladesh’s first-ever nuclear power plant includes 1,300 various items weighing 1,573 tonnes.
The cargo is expected to be delivered at the NPP site in June, according to the statement.
“Despite the international situation, our division being the general contractor for the Rooppur NPP construction fulfills all its obligations, both in terms of construction and supply of equipment,” said Alexey Deriy, director, Rooppur NPP construction project.
Rooppur NPP will be equipped with two Russian VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 MW.
This is an evolutionary generation III+ design which fully complies with all the international safety requirements. The engineering division of Rosatom State Corporation is the general designer and general contractor of the project, said Rosatom.
According to Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, the implementing authority of the project, the first unit of the power plant was scheduled to start operations in 2022 and the second unit in 2024.
But recently the first unit’s operation deadline was rescheduled to 2024 and second unit a year later.
Dhaka, Washington economic ties to grow further: Momen
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has expressed hope that the Bangladesh-US economic partnership will be an effective platform to facilitate economic cooperation and people-to-people ties between the two nations.
To further consolidate the economic partnership, the foreign minister said, the two countries established the ‘Economic Partnership Consultation Mechanism’ which held its first meeting virtually in September 2020 and the second one is scheduled to be held on June 2, 2022.
“We heartily believe that our bilateral relations with the US will flourish in the coming days and will certainly contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation,” Momen said, adding that he is confident that these ties would continue to grow in the next 50 years.
Also, recently, the US-Bangladesh Business Council was launched last year to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.
Read: Momen briefs Blinken about “transparent” election process
The foreign minister made the remarks at a reception in Washington on Monday marking the 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the US.
Deputy Administrator, USAID Isobel Coleman, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam, representatives from the US Government, private sector and civil society joined.
The foreign minister said their government level engagements have been complimented by a growing people-to-people connectivity as well as increasing interaction between various organizations.
The sizable number of Bangladesh Diaspora scattered all across the USA act as an essential bridge between the two nations, he said.
The foundation of this warm bilateral relationship was laid down by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman when he visited the country in October 1974 and met the US President, Momen recalled.
Since then, he said, they have converged in an expanding collaboration in the pursuit of common foreign policy objectives, both bilaterally and globally.
Momen thanked the government of the USA for the persistent commitment and continued efforts towards a durable solution of the Rohingya crisis.
Read: Bangladesh-US economic partnership mechanism to expedite cooperation: Momen
“The USA is the leading single contributor of humanitarian assistance in response to the Rohingya crisis. However, we think the US can do a lot more for a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis,” he said.
Over the decades, this relationship has expanded in depth and dimensions, Momen said, adding that the USA is now one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment into Bangladesh.
“However, we would like to see that US investment in Bangladesh diversifies incorporating other sectors like ICT, agro-processing, renewable energy etc,” he said.
Bangladesh-US economic partnership mechanism to expedite cooperation: Momen
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has expressed hope that the Bangladesh-US "Economic Partnership Consultation Mechanism" will be an effective platform to facilitate cooperation and people-to-people ties between the two nations.
To further consolidate the economic partnership, the foreign minister said, the two countries established the mechanism’ which held its first meeting virtually in September, 2020 and the second one is scheduled to be held on June 2, 2022.
“We heartily believe that our bilateral relations with the US will flourish in the coming days and will certainly contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation,” Momen said, adding that he is confident that these ties would continue to grow in the next 50 years.
Momen briefs Blinken about “transparent” election process
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has briefed his US counterpart Antony Blinken about Bangladesh’s “transparent and independent” election commission apparently suggesting him to encourage BNP to take part in the election process.
“Bring them (BNP) to the election process to follow the rules and procedures of the country,” he told Blinken during their bilateral meeting at the US Department of State on Monday.
While talking to reporters after the meeting in Washington, Momen said he conveyed to the US side that there is a good election process and system in Bangladesh and all parties except one (BNP) join the elections that are transparent, free and fair.
The foreign minister said the BNP must go to the people and take part in the voting process. “We’ve a fair system. We’ve an Election Commission. They’re (EC) independent and during the election they are the boss.”
Also read: It’s time to look beyond energy sector: Momen tells Blinken, seeking 'rock-solid' ties
Momen said if they (BNP) are really committed to democracy they should participate in the election process. “They’re welcome if they want to do elections.”
The FM said the mayor in his city (Sylhet) is from BNP and they are very comfortably working together.
Momen referred to weaknesses of US democracy though the United States is among the oldest modern democracies.
Whereas, he said Bangladesh is a country of 50 years with 18 years of military-backed governments. The foreign minister said the vast population in Bangladesh cast their votes in the elections while the number is very few in the US.
Momen said elections are being held at various levels in Bangladesh since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power.
The foreign minister raised the issue of sheltering Rashed Chowdhury, a convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and reiterated Bangladesh’s call to handover him to Bangladesh.
Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Momen discussed the tremendous economic potential of the relationship and reflected on the ways they have collaborated over the last half century – including growing our people-to-people ties with our vibrant Fulbright exchange.
Also read: Bangladesh, US relations to reach new heights: Blinken to Momen
They also highlighted ongoing cooperation to address the climate crisis, meet the needs of Rohingya victims of genocide, and promote regional security through UN peacekeeping operations.
Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the importance of protecting human rights, the rule of law, and freedom of religion as the basis for safe and prosperous democratic societies.
Lawmaker Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Secretary (West) Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury and Bangladesh Ambassador to the US M Shahidul Islam accompanied Foreign Minister Momen at the meeting.
It’s time to look beyond energy sector: Momen tells Blinken, seeking 'rock-solid' ties
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has sought diversified investment from the United States, noting that it is time to look beyond the energy sector while investing in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh is doing pretty well. But most of the investment (from the US) has been in the energy sector. Maybe it is time to look beyond that,” he said, while noting that the US is Bangladesh's biggest trading partner with the largest accumulated investment in the country.
Before the formal beginning of the bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken at the US Department of State, Momen said he is looking forward to a more enhanced and "rock-solid" relationship with the United States of America.
Bangladesh again demanded the withdrawal of sanctions imposed on elite force Rab and some individuals during the bilateral meeting where they discussed bilateral, regional, and global issues.
The US side appreciated the progress made over the last four months and cited the time-consuming process that needs to be followed for the withdrawal of such restrictions.
Foreign Minister Momen also raised the issue of sheltering Rashed Chowdhury, a convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and demanded of his handing him over to Bangladesh.
The two countries discussed what they can do together to strengthen the partnership as Bangladesh sought wider and diversified cooperation from the US.
Marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-US diplomatic ties (April 4, 1972), the meeting began at 1:30pm (Washington DC time) and lasted for around 45 minutes.
Lawmaker Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Secretary (West) Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury, and Bangladesh Ambassador to the US M Shahidul Islam accompanied Momen at the meeting.
In his remarks before the meeting formally commenced, Secretary Blinken expressed happiness for being able to work together on strengthening the partnership between the United States and Bangladesh.
“We are in fact celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations. And even as we think back on those 50 years, we’re really looking ahead to the start of the next 50 and the work that we can do together, as I said, to strengthen our partnership,” he said.
The US Secretary of State said Bangladesh has been a leader in rallying other countries to deal with the climate crisis that the planet is facing.
“We deeply appreciate that, and we’re working closely together as well on COVID-19, and we’re proud to have been able to contribute through COVAX some 61 million vaccine doses to Bangladesh,” he said.
In turn, Secretary Blinken said, Bangladesh of course is showing extraordinary humanity and generosity in hosting nearly 1 million Rohingyas who have had to flee persecution in Myanmar.
“We’re grateful for that, and the work that you’ve done as one of the strongest supporters of UN peacekeeping around the world, and many other things as well. But we’ll have an opportunity today to discuss the work we’re doing together bilaterally in the region and indeed even globally,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Momen also thanked his US counterpart for committing 61 million of the vaccines - the highest among all the countries. “I think Bangladesh is the number one in terms of receiving the vaccine.”
In addition, he said, the 31 million for the recent economic assistance. “And I also thank you because you have declared the genocide in Myanmar, and we’re so happy you did. I hope there will be some repatriation of these persecuted people,” said the Foreign Minister.
Momen mentioned that they received a letter from President Biden and termed it an excellent letter. “It helps what we want to do. It talks about the last 50 years; we have done a remarkable achievement.”
The Foreign Minister said the U.S. has always been a friend of Bangladesh, during bad times and good times. “And we look forward to a bright future, and that’s why I’m here.”
Over the last 50 years, Momen said, Bangladesh really achieved many – a lot of achievements. "Now we have a vibrant economy, a land of opportunity. And the U.S. has been a great partner and friend."
Adding a personal note, he said he was thankful to the USA for providing him with a job and home when he was "homeless, jobless, and stateless."
Bangladeshi students caught up in Ukraine conflict offered opportunity to study in Russia
Bangladeshi students now caught in the middle of the conflict in Ukraine or forced to leave the country will have a chance to continue their higher education in Russia.
The Russian Embassy in Dhaka says students from Bangladesh who are no longer able to pursue higher education in Ukraine can complete their studies in respective universities in Russia.
Bangladeshi students willing to enrol in the proposed transfer scheme will have to provide relevant information to the embassy.
They will have to mention the desired Russian university and the area of study.
READ: Drug shortages persist in Russia after start of Ukraine war
Also, the student will have to provide copies of the document confirming the admission with the respective Ukrainian university, the student ID card and the record book confirming their progress.
To help students transfer to colleges in Russia, additional information on the transfer procedure is available through the hotline +7 (495) 122-22-68 (Monday – Saturday, 8am – 800pm Moscow time).
Many Bangladeshi students studying in Ukraine have had their education disrupted due to the ongoing conflict.