Foreign-Affairs
Let's work together to defeat COVID-19: UN chief
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for working together to defeat COVID-19 and ensuring that digital technologies are a force for good that help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
"On World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, let us commit to work together," he said adding that they should not leave anyone behind.
The United Nations, through a Roadmap for Digital Cooperation and the vital work of the International Telecommunication Union, aims to make the transformation equitable, safe, inclusive and affordable for all, with full respect for human rights.
Also read: Restore planet amid pandemic: UN chief
The UN chief made the remarks in a message marking the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day that falls on May 17.
Guterres said digital technologies sustain life, work, health and learning for billions of people.
Also read: Let's plant seeds for sustainable future: UN chief
In the face of COVID-19, he said, businesses, governments and the digital community have proven resilient and innovative, helping to protect lives and livelihoods. "These challenging times have accelerated the transformation everywhere."
Yet 3.7 billion people – nearly half the world’s population – remain unconnected to the Internet; and of these, the majority are women, said the UN chief.
Also read: UN chief lauds Bangladesh’s Covid mitigation efforts
"They, too, must be included if we are to make the possibilities of 5G, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, digital health and other technologies truly transformative and sustainable," he said.
"We must also protect against the dangers of digital technologies, from the spread of hatred and misinformation to cyberattacks and the exploitation of our data," Guterres added.
Address Palestinian issue: Bangladesh to UN Security Council
Bangladesh has said the UN Security Council, as the principal organ of the UN charged with ensuring international peace and security, should take up the issue of violence and breach of security in the Al-Quds Al-Shareef and the entire occupied land of the State of Palestine.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh believes in a comprehensive and durable solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quarter Roadmap.
He reiterated Bangladesh's position in the open-ended meeting of the OIC Executive Committee held on virtual platform on Sunday.
Assam Chief Minister thanks FM Momen
Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma has thanked Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr AK Abdul Momen for his very warm good wishes, noting that the next 25 years are crucial for both the countries.
"We all share the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said recently in Bangladesh that the journey of both countries in the next 25 years in the 21st Century is crucial," he tweeted.
Earlier, Dr Momen congratulated the Chief Minister on assuming office.
Read: It's very regrettable, says FM on China's Quad remarks
The Foreign Minister noted that Bangladesh´s centrality in enhancing connectivity for India´s North East and increasing relevance in India´s "Act East Policy".
Dr Momen hoped Assam will progress towards greater peace and prosperity under his leadership.
Sarma, BJP's key strategist in the northeast, defeated his nearest rival, Congress' Romen Chandra Borthakur, by 1,01,911 votes in recent elections.
India widens gap between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks
India on Thursday extended the gap between the first and second doses of the Serum Institute-produced Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine Covishield to 12-16 weeks from the existing six-eight weeks, amid a huge surge in corona cases and an acute shortage of jabs.
Covishield is also being used in Bangladesh's mega inoculation drives. Though Bangladesh has inked a deal with the Serum Institute to acquire 30 million doses of Covishield, a recent surge in Covid cases in India has made the delivery of the remaining doses uncertain.
"Based on available real-life evidence, particularly from the United Kingdom, the Covid-19 Working Group has agreed to increase the dosing interval between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks," the Indian government said in a statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the world's largest Covid vaccination drive in India on January 16. Covishield and local pharmaceutical company Bharat Biotech's Covaxin are currently being given to the citizens of India.
Also read: India to begin Covaxin vaccine trials for children
The Indian government has, however, not announced any changes in dosage intervals for Covaxin, which remains at four to six weeks. "No change in intervals for Covaxin was recommended," the statement said.
Serum's CEO Adar Poonawalla has welcomed the government's announcement. "This is beneficial both from efficacy and immunogenicity standpoints... good scientific decision to increase the gap," he told a local news channel.
Also read: India returnee tests Covid-19 positive in N’ganj, house put under lockdown
Poonawalla also cited a study in international medical journal The Lancet, linking widening of Covishield doses to increased efficacy.
India's main opposition Congress party has, however, expressed apprehensions over the government's latest move, given the fact that there has been a change in Covishield dosage intervals for the second time in three months.
"First, it was four weeks for the second dose, then six-eight weeks and now we are told 12-16 weeks. Is this because there are not enough stocks of vaccines or because professional scientific advice says so?" senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted:
"Can we expect some transparency from the Modi government?" he added.
India is not only reeling under the twin burdens of a huge surge in Covid-19 cases and an acute shortage of jabs, but also facing a deadly crunch of medical oxygen. In the past one month, at least 120 patients have died at different hospitals in India due to oxygen shortage.
With Prime Minister Modi's government failing miserably to stem the oxygen crisis, the Supreme Court last week set up a 12-member National Task Force to assess the availability of the life-saving gas across the country and help resolve the crisis at the earliest.
Also read: Stranded Bangladeshis in India: 3 more land ports to be reopened
"The rationale for constituting a Task Force at a national level is to facilitate public health response to the pandemic based on scientific and specialised domain knowledge. We expect leading experts in the country shall associate with the Task Force," judges had said.
Korean Embassy honours content contest winners
Winners of the 'Contents Contest on Korea-Bangladesh Relations' were conferred with awards by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea at a ceremony held in Dhaka recently.
The awards ceremony at the Embassy in Dhaka was held marking the anniversary of Korea-Bangladesh diplomatic relations. The awards were to encourage Bangladeshi content creators who have contributed to promoting understanding between the two countries.
Read: South Korea suspends visas for Bangladeshis to curb Covid-19
Among a number of participants in the contest, Tanjina Haque bagged the first prize for presenting a comprehensive survey of the Korea-Bangladesh ties for almost 50 years with many pieces of relevant photos and records.
Other winners of the contest are Istinarah Surrat Nubah, Naimul Hasan, Reyad Hossain, MD Nuralam Mollah, Abdullah Al Mamun and Norul Isam. Some of the works presented by them have been uploaded on the Embassy's website, it's Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The history of the ties between the Republic of Korea and Bangladesh dates back to the early 1970s, particularly the 12th of May, 1972, when Korea officially recognised the independent government of Bangladesh, said the Embassy.
Thereafter, it said, the two countries established official diplomatic relations on December 18, 1973, and Korea opened its Embassy in Dhaka on March 1, 1975.
Read:S Korea provides US$ 1 mn to IOM to support Rohingyas affected in recent fire
This year marks the 48th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun shared an interesting story about the role of the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the initial period of the two countries’ relations at the 4th Bangabandhu Lecture Series held at the Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy on March 15, 2021.
Hasina a household name in Palestine: Envoy
Palestinian Ambassador Yousef SY Ramadan has highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her concern about the Palestinian people and expressing her solidarity with the just cause of Palestinians.
“Sheikh Hasina is a household name in Palestine. The people of Palestine invariably love and respect Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her unflinching support for them," said the Ambassador.
Read:PM denounces attacks at Al Aqsa mosque compound
He appreciated continued support of Bangladesh and the empathy of Bangladeshi people for the oppressed occupied people of Palestine.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen handed over a letter concerning the recent airstrikes unleashed by the Israeli military to the Palestinian Ambassador Yousef SY Ramadan from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday at his office.
The Foreign Secretary conveyed the concern of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina regarding the current development in Gaza.
Bangladesh appreciated the OIC Secretariat for convening an emergency meeting of the Council of Permanent Representative to the OIC and passing a resolution about the atrocities inflicted upon the civilians by the occupying forces.
Read:Covid-19 crisis: PM Hasina reiterates firm solidarity with India
The Foreign Secretary said OIC might convene an emergency meeting of OICFM or Al Quds Committee for a sustainable solution to the evolving situation.
He stressed that the latest development in Gaza may be taken to the UNGA or UNSC through the OIC Secretariat for a sustainable solution of the Palestinian crisis.
Stranded Bangladeshis in India: 3 more land ports to be reopened
Considering the sufferings of the Bangladeshis still stranded in India, three more land ports will be reopened for their entry from India from May 16 in addition to Benapole, Burimari and Akhaura.
The new land ports are Darshana, Hili and Sonamasjid.
The decision was taken on Wednesday in an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary).
Also Read: Border with India to remain shut for another 14 days
As the facilities for quarantine under the district administration of Jessore have been exhausted, entry through the Benapole might be suspended for the time being.
The Bangladeshi travellers are requested to follow the guidance of Bangladesh missions in India in this regard.
All other restrictions and conditions imposed previously would remain in effect, according to the decision of the meeting.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India; Secretary, Security Services Division, Ministry of Home Affairs; Secretary (East), Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division; Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and representatives of MoFA, MoHA, AFD, BGB, relevant District Administrations and Bangladesh missions in India attended the meeting.
We respect Bangladesh’s right to make foreign policy decisions for itself: US
The United States has taken note of Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming's recent remarks over "Quad" saying that the US respects Bangladesh’s right to make foreign policy decisions for itself.
"What we would say is that we respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty, and we respect Bangladesh’s right to make foreign policy decisions for itself," Spokesperson at the US Department of State Ned Price said in a regular briefing on Tuesday.
Price said they have an incredibly strong relationship with Bangladesh and work closely with their partners there on a range of issues --from economic growth to climate change to humanitarian issues.
Also read: Ambassador Li meets FS; explains his remarks
"And when it comes to the Quad, we’ve said this before, but the Quad, it’s an informal, essential, multilateral mechanism that right now conveys – convenes likeminded democracies – the United States, India, Australia, and Japan – to coordinate in the Indo-Pacific, and fundamentally, to push forward our goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific region," said the Spokesperson.
Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming on Wednesday met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and explained his remarks made during the DCAB discussions.
The meeting was held after a vaccine handover ceremony at state guesthouse Padma.
Also read: It's very regrettable, says FM on China's Quad remarks
They discussed different bilateral issues, including Covid cooperation, between the two countries, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB.
They highlighted the importance of the growing relationship between the two countries.
On Monday, the Ambassador attended a programme hosted by Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) and talked about a number of issues, including vaccine cooperation.
Also read: Beijing wants Dhaka not to join Quad
The envoy, while responding to a question, also talked about Quad, an initiative of four countries- the United States, Japan, India and Australia, that was followed by a reaction by Dhaka.
Ambassador Li said obviously it will not be a good idea for Bangladesh to participate in this small club of four countries because it will "substantially damage" the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“So, we don’t like to see any form of participation by Bangladesh to this small group of countries,” said the envoy.
Ambassador Li meets FS; explains his remarks
Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming on Wednesday met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and explained his recent remarks made during a progamme of Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB).
The meeting was held at the state guesthouse Padma after the vaccine handover ceremony.
They discussed different bilateral issues including Covid cooperation between the two countries, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB.
They highlighted the importance of the growing relationship between the two countries.
On Monday, the Ambassador attended a programme hosted by DCAB and talked about a number of issues including vaccine cooperation.
The envoy, while responding to a question, also talked about Quad, an initiative of four countries- the United States, Japan, India and Australia, that followed by a reaction by Dhaka.
Bangladesh thanks China; seeks larger amount of vaccine doses
Extending thanks to the Chinese government for providing 5 lakh doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine as a gift, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said Bangladesh wants a larger amount of vaccine doses from China.
"We’re very thankful to them. We’re thankful to China. They’ve been very cooperative to us. We look forward to many more vaccine doses from China," he said.
Dr Momen said China has the capacity and competency to produce vaccines on a large scale and he has no doubt that Bangladesh will get more vaccine doses as China agreed.
Read: 500 thousand doses of China’s gifted vaccine arrive in Bangladesh
The Foreign Minister was addressing the vaccine handover ceremony participated by Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming.
Acknowledging China's vaccine capacity, Dr Momen also shared Bangladesh's interest to go for co-production in Bangladesh.
The vaccine doses, donated by the Chinese government to Bangladesh, arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday morning.