foreign-affairs
UN expresses desire to see a fair, peaceful election in Bangladesh: Obaidul Quader
Appreciating Bangladesh’s development under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, the United Nations has expressed their desire to see a "free, fair, peaceful and inclusive" election in Bangladesh.
"It’s a different meeting that we had with other diplomats. The election issue also came up for discussion. They want a free, fair, inclusive, and peaceful election," Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader told reporters after a meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis on Thursday afternoon.
Read: BNP is instigating militant groups ahead of national election: Quader
Faruq Khan MP, Presidium Member, Dr. Shammi Ahmed, International Affairs Secretary, Dr. Salim Mahmud, Information and Research Secretary, Barrister Biplab Barua, Office Secretary, and Prof Mohammad A Arafat MP were present in the meeting.
The AL General Secretary said the UN has no headache over the conditions pressed by BNP, like election under a caretaker government, PM's resignation, and dissolution of parliament.
"We want to see a competitive election," Quader said, adding that it would be a credible one.
"We can't force them (BNP to join polls)," said the AL leader.
Read: Quader calls for unity among AL leaders and activists
He said that though their previous meetings with other diplomats were mainly election related, today's meeting was a bit different.
They talked about the UN-set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Resident Coordinator also appreciated all the big development projects that are underway, he said.
Quader said the UN did not raise any points regarding BNP's conditions, but they will feel good if they see a peaceful election in Bangladesh.
Saudi Arabia offers Nusuk platform for Bangladeshi visitors to increase accessibility and simplify Umrah Journey
Saudi Arabia has offered Nusuk platform for Bangladeshi visitors increasing accessibility and simplifying the Umrah Journey.
Dr. Tawfig Al-Rabiah, Minister for Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia made this offer during a roadshow at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in Dhaka on Thursday.
Nusuk, launched in 2022, is the the first-ever official planning, booking and experience platform, to create Hajj or Umrah itinerary to Makkah, Madina, and beyond.
With Nusuk, travelers from all over the world can easily organize their entire visit, from applying for an eVisa to booking hotels and flights.
Saudi Government flagship initiative Nusuk organized its first roadshow promote its official integrated digital platform for the Bangladeshis, planning to visit the kingdom for spiritual and tourism purposes in the presence of Saudi delegates including Alhasan Aldabbagh, Nusuk APAC President.
The roadshow was attended by Bangladeshi business organizations including Umrah companies, tour operators, travel agencies and trade associations among others.
Dr. Tawfig Al-Rabiah, also Chairman of the Pilgrimage Experience Program, said, “Our brotherly relation with Bangladesh is tested and proven over time. We want to take it to a new height and are working on new areas of bilateral cooperation.”
Read: MoU on air services to reduce cost for passengers from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia: Saudi Minister
He said as the custodian of Two Holy Mosques, it is a great honor and privilege for us to host the guests of Allah from across the world.
“It is our holy responsibility and we are committed to do everything possible to make the spiritual journey of the pilgrims safe, accessible, hassle-free and comfortable. We are constantly working on enriching your pilgrimage experience”, he added.
Fahd Hamidaddin, Managing Director of Nusuk said that the roadshow to Bangladesh exceeded expectations, with cross-government and trade partner collaborations, helping us in unlocking tremendous potential for the Bangladeshi travelers.
So far this year, he said Saudi Arabia welcomed over 332,000 Bangladeshi travelers to the country and he looks forward to growing this number to 3 million by 2030.
“Looking at the future, we are excited about working together with our key trade partners and collaborating more closely with them to facilitate fulfilling our brothers and sisters Umrah dream and spiritual and cultural enrichment,”he said.
Read: Saudi Arabia deposits $2 billion in Pakistan's central bank as a boost ahead of a key IMF meeting
Alhasan Aldabbagh, Nusuk APAC President, said, “With Nusuk.sa, our aim is to increase the ease and accessibility for Bangladeshi travelers, especially with the growing numbers of Umrah pilgrims. “
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken multiple steps to drive this mission forward, Muslim visitors can apply for online Umrah visas.
“We have streamlined the visa process with issuance in under 24 hours and are offering Visa-on-arrival services to UK/US/Schengen passport holders allowing them to freely perform Umrah and explore the country's unique cultural diversity,”he said.
Besides this, Alhasan Aldabbagh, said Saudi Arabia has increased the duration of Umrah visa to 90 days, reduced the insurance costs for Umrah pilgrims and have made Zamzam water available with any type of visa. Bangladesh is also eligible for the 96-hour Stopover visa that enables Muslims to add Umrah as an itinerary stop.
Read more: Remittances from Saudi Arabia can increase further: Ambassador Javed Patwary
Groom girls to become agents of change in Global South: PM Hasina at BRICS luncheon
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called for creating an enabling environment for women and girls to become agents of change in the Global South and urged all to join hands to achieve SDG 5.
“In the Global South, we must create an enabling environment for our women and girls to become agents of change. We should all join hands to achieve SDG 5,” she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing a luncheon at Sandton Convention Centre here.
The current chair of the BRICS hosted the lunch in honour of the heads of the states and governments attending the 15th BRICS Summit at Johannesburg, South Africa.
Hasina also placed five pressing issues to draw attention from the BRICS member countries and others.
These are:
“First, we must mitigate the adverse effects of the ongoing food, energy, and financial crises on the nutrition, health, and safety of our women and girls.”
Read: BRICS needs to take responsibility for global peace, stability: PM Hasina at Johannesburg
Second, she said, make added efforts to keep girls in schools, secure them from cybercrimes, and reduce the growing digital divide many of them face.
“Third, expand scope for women’s gainful employment, decent work, wage equality, and financial inclusion.”
“Fourth, she said take a deeper look at women’s need for protection and resilience due to aggravating climate impacts, and
Fifth, promote a level playing field for women to have an active and sustained political career.”
The PM said that Bangladesh’s Constitution guarantees equal rights for women.
She mentioned Article 28(2) of the Constitution that says: Women shall have equal rights with men in all spheres of the state and of public life.
Read: PM Hasina writes to Modi hailing India’s historic landing on Moon
“We have a unique case in our National Parliament where our Speaker, Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition, and Deputy Leader of the House all happen to be women,” she said.
She mentioned that the Awami League government has opened the doors for women to become judges of the highest court, higher positions in civil administration, armed forces, law enforcing agencies, vice chancellors of public universities, and so on.
“An increasing number of women are getting engaged in politics, as 30 percent of seats have been preserved for women in the national parliament and local government bodies,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that she thinks education and employment are two key elements that can empower women.
“So, greater emphasis has been laid on female education,” she said.
In this regard, she stated that the girls’ education up to 12th grade has been made free. Enrollment at the pre-primary and primary levels rose to 99 percent.
Read: Join our journey of becoming a trillion-dollar economy: PM Hasina tells South African businesses
She said the female-male school enrolment ratio rose to 53:47.
She also said that about 25 million students have been brought under various stipend and scholarship programmes while stipend money reaches the mothers or legitimate guardians directly through their mobile phones.
Free books have been distributed among students up to the secondary level since 2010. The increasing rate of female education has significantly lowered the rate of child marriage, she added.
In primary education, she said, 60 percent of teacher posts have been earmarked for females. Until recently, a 10 percent quota was reserved for females in government jobs.
She said women also make up the backbone of our export-oriented readymade garments industry, with 2.5 million women directly working in the sector.
She mentioned that women are also doing well in business and the government offers loans, training, and market access for women in micro, small, and medium enterprises.
“Many of our rural women now work as IT freelancers or as partners in local digital centers,” she said.
The prime minister said that social safety net programmes of the government cover the most vulnerable women, including those with disabilities.
“I have made arrangements for joint ownership of homes by husband and wife under my free housing project, Ashrayan,” she stated.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman were also present among others.
US provides $250,000 to help communities in Bandarban
The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing $250,000 in emergency assistance to help communities in the Bandarban district recover from deadly monsoon flooding and landslides that occurred in mid-August.
With this funding, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society will distribute multi-purpose cash assistance in Bandarban communities that were hit hardest.
Heavy monsoon rainfall in the Chattogram division in early August resulted in floods and subsequent landslides that caused at least 51 deaths and adversely affected an estimated 1.3 million people, including the displacement of more than 200,000 people throughout the region.
Read: US supports Bangladesh’s goal of holding a free, fair and peaceful election: State Dept
“The United States has stood by Bangladesh to respond to emergencies and natural disasters for more than 50 years. Today, we continue to stand together to help the communities affected most by this latest tragedy and remain committed to our shared goal of helping Bangladeshis build more resilient and prosperous futures for themselves,” said USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman.
Since Bangladesh’s independence, the United States government has invested more than $8 billion to improve the lives of Bangladeshis, said the US Embassy in Dhaka.
Read: US supports India for G20 presidency
“Collaborative spirit” between Bangladesh, IFAD has been instrumental: Donal Brown
IFAD’s Associate Vice President, Programme Management Department, Donal Brown has said the “collaborative spirit” between the government of Bangladesh and IFAD has been instrumental in driving innovation across multiple sectors, achieving positive change, and fostering inclusive development.
“Our achievements would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our partners – the government of Bangladesh, international partners, local organizations, and, above all, the communities we serve,” he said.
Over the past 45 years, IFAD has supported 37 projects, mobilizing USD 3.9 billion in financing, to improve the lives and livelihoods of more than 11 million families.
IFAD-assisted interventions have invested in everything from ensuring easy and affordable access to rural finance and enhancing infrastructure development to promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.
Brown is visiting the country to “deepen an already successful partnership” by meeting with high level government officials such as Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and seeing first-hand the impact of IFAD’s support on Bangladesh’s rural people by visiting project sites in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Thakugaon.
Brown emphasized IFAD’s commitment to achieving the sustainable development goals with focus on No Poverty and Zero Hunger in rural communities by moving from a project-based to a programmatic approach. Climate change adaptation is also a top priority.
Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque lauded the country’s work with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), noting that this “continuous collaboration is vital to creating an inclusive and empowering ecosystem for farmers to fortify resilience against climate change, foster sustainable food systems, and drive rural development with the ultimate goal of promoting rural prosperity.”
Read: IFAD president Alvaro Lario lauds Bangladesh's remarkable achievements in food production
He highlighted the dramatic progress made by Bangladesh in the agricultural sector at an event held in Dhaka on Tuesday commemorating 45 years of partnership between IFAD and the Government of Bangladesh.
“In an era when collaboration and innovation drive development, this occasion stands as a testament to the sustained efforts that IFAD and the government have devoted to rural development since 1978,” said Arnoud Hameleers, IFAD Country Director for Bangladesh.
The event provided an insightful retrospective on the milestones achieved over the years, acknowledging the transformational impact of joint initiatives, projects, and programmes.
Read: Bangladesh seeks IFAD support to boost wheat and edible oil production
He said this was an opportunity to celebrate not just the accomplishments but the spirit of partnership and cooperation that have been the bedrock of this successful journey to a more sustainable and inclusive food systems approach.
Representatives from various ministries of the government, the United Nations, international organizations, and development partners attended the event.
Currently, IFAD has invested USD 519 million in Bangladesh, distributed across six ongoing projects implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Local Government Engineering Department, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation and the Bangladesh Water Development Board. Bangladesh has also shown its strong commitment to IFAD’s mandate, contributing USD 2 million to IFAD’s resources as a member of its Governing Council.
Read more: Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is on the rise in developing countries: IFAD
PM Hasina writes to Modi hailing India’s historic landing on Moon
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent a message to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi congratulating him and the people of India on the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3.
In her message to Prime Minister Modi on August 23, she conveyed her felicitations to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and its scientists for making India the fourth nation globally to land a spacecraft on the moon's surface.
Read: Hasina-Xi meeting underway in Johannesburg
Hasina also conveyed that Bangladesh rejoices with India on this momentous occasion and on this historic achievement, which is a matter of immense pride and inspiration to all the South Asian countries in advancing the science and space technology sector.
India has made history as its Moon mission becomes the first to land in the lunar south pole region.
Read: Possibility of courtesy meeting between Hasina and Modi on the sidelines of BRICS Summit: Foreign Ministry
With this, India joins an elite club of countries to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, after the US, the former Soviet Union and China.
The Vikram lander from Chandrayaan-3 successfully touched down as planned at 18:04 local time (12:34 GMT).
Sixth year of genocidal attacks against Rohingya: A UN expert demands accountability for the violence
Marking the sixth anniversary of the Myanmar military’s genocidal attacks against the Rohingya, a UN expert on Thursday called on world leaders to end the paralysis of indifference and take action to hold the architects and perpetrators of this violence to account while supporting Rohingya refugees and internally displaced persons.
“We cannot let another year go by without principled and decisive action to support justice and accountability for the Rohingya,” said Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, in a statement issued from Geneva.
He said responsibility for the immense suffering of the Rohingya starts at the top. “Min Aung Hlaing, who led the genocidal campaign, is now at the head of an illegal and illegitimate military junta that is attacking civilian populations throughout Myanmar. He must be brought to justice and be made to answer for his crimes.”
On 25 August 2017, the Myanmar military launched a massive offensive to drive the Rohingya people from their homeland in northern Rakhine State.
In the weeks that followed, soldiers murdered, raped, and tortured Rohingya civilians and burned Rohingya villages to the ground throughout the region.
More than 700,000 Rohingya fled for their lives across the border into Bangladesh. Despite the military’s claims that its “clearance operations” were directed at Rohingya militants and terrorists, Rohingya civilians were the primary targets of the military’s brutal and unrelenting attacks.
The attacks on the Rohingya six years ago likely constitute crimes against humanity and genocide, crimes that should shock the conscience of the world and spur international action.
The Rohingya deserve justice for the violence that uprooted them from their homeland, tore apart families, and left untold thousands dead and many more with scars and trauma that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Read: Singapore's support sought for Rohingya repatriation, Dhaka's inclusion as ASEAN Dialogue Partner
The events of 2017 were preceded by decades of violence and oppression against the Rohingya, including widespread and brutal attacks on Rohingya communities in 2012 and 2016.
More than one million Rohingya refugees now reside in massive refugee camps in Bangladesh. Approximately 600,000 remain within Rakhine State, where they continue to suffer severe rights restrictions and the threat of further violence.
The international community has also failed to adequately support the Rohingya in their hour of need, said the UN expert.
While responsibility for the crimes against the Rohingya lies squarely with the Myanmar military, he said, the international community has also failed its responsibility to the forcibly displaced people.
After six years, the Security Council has not referred the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, despite the overwhelming evidence of atrocity crimes.
Some countries continue to sell weapons to the military that attacked and murdered the Rohingya and is now turning its guns on civilian populations throughout the country, according to the statement.
Read: President Shahabuddin seeks continued Swiss support on Rohingya repatriation
Those nations who support human rights have failed to take the coordinated action necessary to deny the military junta of Myanmar what it requires to sustain its attacks – money, weapons and legitimacy.
The international community has also failed to adequately support the Rohingya in their hour of need.
The World Food Programme has been forced to implement devastating rations cuts in the camps in Bangladesh because of dwindling financial contributions from UN Member States.
Some governments are backing a short-sighted plan to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh before their safety and human rights in Myanmar can be ensured. Few countries have stepped up to support resettlement or other durable solutions for Rohingya.
Read more: Rohingya repatriation: Bangladesh determined for a ‘small trial’, says Shahriar Alam
The Rohingya are tired of empty promises. Their children cannot eat political rhetoric or UN resolutions that go nowhere.
They need and deserve the world to end the deadly paralysis of indifference, he said, adding that immediate action is needed to hold accountable those responsible for genocide and to end the suffering and save the lives of Rohingya who are within and beyond the borders of Myanmar.
International community must not forget Rohingyas, host community: Volker Türk
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday said the international community must not forget the Rohingya people or their host community in Bangladesh in the face of competing crises.
He said humanitarian appeals for supporting the Rohingya, both in Myanmar and in the camps in Bangladesh, need greater support and funding.
“At the same time, third countries should expand Rohingya resettlement programmes or provide temporary protection, particularly in the region. And international efforts must be redoubled to reverse course in Myanmar and to ensure accountability and justice,” Turk said.
Six years ago this week, Myanmar’s military initiated its latest brutal campaign in a decades-long persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine State.
Read: No one should obstruct trial repatriation of Rohingyas: Shahriar
In what has been alleged to be a genocidal operation against the Rohingya, some 10,000 men, women, boys, girls, and newborns were killed, over 300 villages destroyed and over 700,000 fled to Bangladesh within a short period of time.
In all, over a million Rohingya have fled persecution and systematic discrimination to seek international refugee protection in Bangladesh, and more than 100,000 others are being held in closed displacement camps inside Myanmar.
In a sign of their desperation, thousands more continue to attempt dangerous sea crossings from Myanmar and Bangladesh, too often ending in tragedy, according to a message received here from Geneva.
More must be done to hold the military to account for their repeated campaigns of persecution against the Rohingya, and for driving the country into its current human rights and humanitarian crisis, Turk said.
Read: Said no to US congressmen’s suggestion that Bangladesh absorb Rohingyas: Momen
In the face of the impunity enjoyed by the Myanmar military for past and present crimes against the Rohingya as well as other groups, I call on States fully to support the ongoing international accountability efforts, he said.
“Having spent many years trying to ease the plight of the Rohingya, my most fervent wish is for them to be able to return to their homes in dignity, in freedom and properly recognised as part of the diversity of Myanmar’s population. Their human rights must be fully respected and their security guaranteed,” Turk said.
This is currently not the case given the precarious conditions in Rakhine State, he said, adding that the military has shown no willingness to address systematic discrimination against the Rohingya.
Read more: Resettlement Programme: US efforts underway to take most vulnerable Rohingyas
Foreign Minister expresses Bangladesh’s interested in buying LNG from Algeria
Algeria has underlined the need to engage in more efforts to scale up bilateral collaboration with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh stressed the need for expanding cooperation in new and emerging areas through a time-bound and target-oriented roadmap and expediting pending agreements, MOUs, and new areas of collaboration.
Algeria agreed to conclude those agreements as soon as possible, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
Iranian FM says ties with Saudi Arabia "moving in right direction"
Minister of Finance and Head of Algerian delegation to BRICS Outreach Forum, Laaziz Faid, had a courtesy meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday in Johannesburg, South Africa.
While reflecting on the current energy crisis, given the growing demand in Bangladesh due to the expansion of the economy, the Foreign Minister stated that Bangladesh needs support from Algeria to meet its energy needs.
He expressed Bangladesh's keen interest in buying LNG from Algeria.
The Foreign Minister and the Algerian Finance Minister exchanged views on various bilateral issues of mutual interests.
FM Momen praises Korean model of dev during meeting with envoy
The Foreign Minister informed the long historical relations between both countries, which was pioneered by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He expressed satisfaction at the state of excellent bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Algeria, which is growing in various fields including political, economic, business, trade, and investment.
Sheikh Kamal was multi-talented: FM Momen
Momen informed him about Bangladesh’s earnest interest in joining BRICS.
The Algerian Finance Minister referred to the NAM Summit of 1973 and defined BRICS as a fruit of NAM.
Both parties agreed that despite excellent relations there are still huge untapped prospects between the countries.
Dr Momen requested the Algerian Finance Minister to expedite the process of completing the agreement on ‘Reciprocal bilateral promotion and protection of investment’ and ‘Avoidance of double taxation’.
He also informed the Algerian Finance Minister about the socio-economic development and economic prospects.
Highlighting that Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals export to more than 100 countries, the Foreign Minister suggested that Algeria can import the best quality pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh at a reasonably low price.
Both countries may also start a joint venture on pharmaceuticals.
He also proposed cooperation in IT and ICT sectors, defence, construction sectors, edible oil, and agriculture.
Both countries also agreed to hold high-level visits in the next year.
During the meeting, the Algerian Finance Minister said he would take up the issue with the concerned stakeholders.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Algeria and Foreign Ministry officials were also present during the meeting.
Hasina-Xi meeting underway in Johannesburg
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday started talks at Sandton, the financial district of South Africa, to discuss further cooperation between the two countries overcoming common challenges.
The meeting began after 6:30pm, local time, (10:30pm Bangladesh time) at Hilton Hotel.
The two leaders are meeting for the second time since October 14, 2016, when President Xi held talks with PM Hasina during his visit to Bangladesh.
Also read: Hasina-Xi Talks in Jo'burg: Dhaka wants to discuss regional stability, trade, investment issues with Beijing
In today’s meeting, Bangladesh wants to discuss the importance of regional peace and stability, enhanced trade and investment and loan issues with the Chinese leader, said officials accompanying the prime minister
The Prime Minister is visiting Johannesburg to attend the BRICS-Africa Outreach and the BRICS Plus Dialogues.
Also read: Unhindered democracy spurs Bangladesh’s advancement: PM Hasina