foreign-affairs
First WHO guidance on snakebite treatments published
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published the first in a series of WHO public-benefit target product profiles (TPPs) for snakebite treatments, in order to improve the quality of antivenoms available in the market. This is the first-ever guidance to improve the quality of such products. The TPP is a document that provides regulators, manufacturers, researchers and procurement agencies with essential information about the minimum and optimum characteristics of specific products for specific use cases, in this case, antivenoms used for the treatment of snakebites caused by various types of sub-Saharan African snakes. TPPs help to ensure that products are designed and manufactured to meet the match the clinical needs of populations at risk, and are “fit-for-use” – e.g., are safe, effective and adapted to the use environment,
A high-quality antivenom provides the best available treatment for approximately 5.4 million people who are bitten by snakes each year. Safe, effective antivenoms could prevent many of the 83 000-138 000 deaths caused by snakebites and reduce the severity of serious disabilities that impact many thousands more victims.
“Access to high quality, safe and effective antivenom is an issue of equity and this critical work brings us one step forward in being able to make this a reality” Dr Socé Fall, Director of the WHO Global NTD Programme.
Read: Vanessa Kerry appointed WHO special envoy for climate change and health
Antivenoms have been made for some 130 years and yet, remarkably, there has been until now, no guidance on how to design and manufacture a product of high quality that meets the correct requirements for safety, effectiveness, and functional use.
Four TPPs for different types of conventional animal plasma-derived antivenomsThe first of these is for products that are intended for widespread use throughout sub-Saharan Africa, for treatment of snakebites irrespective of the species of snake causing the bite. The second is for treatment of bites from a single species (or group) of snake(s). Products in both these categories are currently on the market.
Read: Mother of newborn who died due to ‘negligence’ at Central Hospital passes away
The other two categories are for products that do not yet exist in sub-Saharan Africa, but evidence from other parts of the world suggests that if developed they may have a useful role to play. One of these new product types is for antivenoms where the snakebite mainly causes a syndrome dominated by neurotoxic effects, while the other is intended for non-neurotoxic snakebite syndromes that involve effects on blood clotting or tissue necrosis without paralytic effects.
These TPPs, are intended to provide guidance to manufacturers, regulators, procurement agencies, clinicians and researchers and will contribute to improvements in the quality, safety and effectiveness of antivenoms and thus better treatment of snakebites.
Climate change: Foreign Minister highlights adaptation efforts
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has highlighted Bangladesh’s efforts to transform its climate vulnerability into appropriate tools for resilience and prosperity.
He offered to share Bangladesh’s experiences with climate adaptation, including for climate-resilient housing for those affected and displaced due to climate change.
Read: Climate-vulnerable countries reiterate calls for debt sustainability, climate prosperity
The Foreign Minister made the concluding remarks at a CVF-V20 meeting on the sidelines of the Summit on A New Global Financing Pact being held in Paris on 22-23 June 2023.
Momen reaffirmed support for the V20 Accra-Marrakech Agenda on climate financing towards promoting nature-positive development in developing countries.
Read: Bangladeshi farmers need to use fertilizer and water efficiently: Experts
He stressed the CVF position on concrete deliverables on climate financing to live up to the Paris Agreement and related commitments.
Climate-vulnerable countries reiterate calls for debt sustainability, climate prosperity
The Vulnerable Twenty Group of Finance Ministers (V20) of the CVF, on Friday launched a coalition of developing countries to triangulate the multilateral system, private sector (including credit rating agencies) and philanthropies, for win-win solutions on climate, debt, and development.Leaders from the 58 countries of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) –– including Ghana’s president and CVF chair, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Barbados prime minister and summit co-host Mia Mottley, Kenya’s president William Ruto, and Colombia’s president Gustavo Petro –– representing developing countries, led the overwhelming call for the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact to deliver in not only reforming, but also transforming the international financial system towards debt sustainability and climate prosperity.Building on the V20 roadmap for its Accra-Marrakech Agenda (A2M) launched April 2023, the statement of the ‘Emergency Coalition for Debt Sustainability and Climate Prosperity’ focuses on aligning the sovereign debt architecture with development and climate goals.
Read: State Minister Faridul visits Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims in KSAThis will require greater ambition and cooperation among the G20, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), other global and regional development finance institutions, credit rating agencies, the private sector, and other stakeholders.“From Accra and Bridgetown and now from Paris, the Climate Vulnerable Forum will keep working to not only make debt work for climate action, but also transform the international and development financial systems, secure a global deal on carbon financing, and revolutionize risk management throughout Nairobi and Marrakech and Dubai,” said Ghana’s president and CVF chair Nana Akufo-Addo.He was referring to the Africa Climate Action Summit to be held in Kenya in September, the IMF and WBG annual meetings in Morocco in October, and the UN climate conference in the United Arab Emirates in December.
Read: Bangladeshi farmers need to use fertilizer and water efficiently: Experts “Debt distress and record highs in the cost of capital threaten to reverse development gains and jeopardize our ability to finance climate and development goals for the future. To avoid another lost decade of stalled restructurings and high debt service pressure, the global financial architecture needs to urgently evolve,” said Ghana’s finance minister and V20 chair Ken Ofori-Atta.Ghana, Sri Lanka, and Colombia were among the 40 out of then-55 V20 countries that were in debt distress in the middle of last year.The V20’s total debt stock is one-fifth of all developing country debt, according to the September 2022 debt review it co-published with the Boston University Global Development Policy Center.“We hope other developing countries join the Emergency Coalition, and that the G20 and international financial institutions work with us through the Common Framework and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, among other fora, so we can save ourselves from debt distress and worsening climate impacts,” Minister Ofori-Atta added.The Emergency Coalition for Debt Sustainability and Climate Prosperity is led by the V20 and co-organized by a group of independent think-tanks and universities including the Finance for Development Lab; the Task Force on Climate, Development, and the IMF; and Debt Relief for Green and Inclusive Recovery.
Read: Palestinian Ambassador says Nur met with Israel's Mossad 3 timesThe V20 membership stands at 58 countries representing some 1.5 billion people from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Palau, Palestine**, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Yemen.
US to host ministerial meeting on July 7 to launch global coalition to address synthetic drug threats
The United States will convene and host a virtual ministerial meeting on July 7, bringing together dozens of countries and international organizations, to launch a global coalition to address synthetic drug threats.
US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will host the meeting.
The United States wishes to engage with all countries concerned about the public health and security risks associated with synthetic drugs.
Read: Bangladeshi farmers need to use fertilizer and water efficiently: Experts
"We encourage partners to join this coalition and contribute to building a safer world," Secretary Blinken said on Friday.
This coalition seeks to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, identify emerging drug trends, and respond effectively to their public health impacts.
Synthetic drugs represent a grave and growing risk to the health and safety of Americans and people around the world. Illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are involved in more deaths of American adults under 50 than any other cause.
Other countries face challenges from dangerous synthetic drugs including tramadol, methamphetamine, captagon, MDMA, and ketamine.
Recognizing the urgent need for collective action, the United States is rallying the international community to address this pressing challenge head-on.
Following the establishment of the Global Coalition, the United States will engage in consultations with participating countries to prioritize specific, concrete actions to address synthetic drug threats.
Through specialized working groups, we will develop innovative solutions, drive national initiatives, and elevate the need to address synthetic drugs as a shared global priority.
The Global Coalition plans to reconvene on the margins of the 78th UN General Assembly and the March 2024 UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
Read: Palestinian Ambassador says Nur met with Israel's Mossad 3 times
These gatherings will provide critical platforms to share progress and achievements with a wider audience and facilitate the advancement of international drug policy.
BSF officials Sonali Mishra visits Hili border check post in Dinajpur
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Additional Director General Sonali Mishra on Friday visited Hili border in Dinajpur and discussed issues relating to the international border.
During her visit, she held a meeting with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on border related issues.
According to BGB, Additional Director General of Kolkata Eastern Command Mishra visited the Hili border at 10 am on Friday. Later, she visited a BGB checkpoint.
Read: 2 farmers shot by BSF along B’baria border
BGB Dinajpur Sector Commander Colonel Rashed Asghar and Joypurhat-20 BGB Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Rafiqul Islam greeted her with flowers.
Read: 1 Bangladeshi shot dead, another wounded by BSF along Lalmonirhat border
Later, at the invitation of the BGB, she held a meeting with BGB officials on the Bangladesh side of the check post.
The officials of these two border forces discussed various issues of the border, BGB said.
Read more: Bangladeshi shot dead by India's BSF along Lalmonirhat border
State Minister Faridul visits Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims in KSA
State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan visited the pavilions set up for Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims in Mina and Arafat.
The state minister made his visit to the tents on Thursday afternoon and inquired about the overall preparations, Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia said in a press release.
Read: After long waits, new pilgrims prepare for Hajj's return, the first major one since COVID-19
During his visit, Faridul Haque Khan observed the situation of the hajj pilgrims and directed the officials of the Mecca Hajj Mission to ensure all the facilities.
Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia Dr Mohammad Javed Patwary, Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, Deputy Head of Mission Md Abul Hasan Mridha, Hajj Counsellor Md Zahirul Islam and other senior officials were also present at that time.
Read: 1,550 Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims reached Saudi Arabia on Monday
More than one lakh Bangladeshi pilgrims have already reached Mecca to perform hajj this year.
Bangladeshi farmers need to use fertilizer and water efficiently: Experts
Farmers need to utilise fertilizer and water more effectively in order to increase agricultural production, experts said on Thursday.
Henk van Duijn, president and CEO of US-based International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), made the suggestion at the launch of Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity (CSA) at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) in the city on Thursday.
Read: US invests $35 million for new climate-smart agriculture project in Bangladesh
A fund of $35 million is being provided by USAID for the five-year CSA project starting this year to be implemented in 21 districts of the country’s south and southwestern region.
“Soil nutrient degradation and salinity in the coastal areas are major problems. As fertilizer prices are high in the international market, farmers struggle to avail it despite government subsidy,” said Duijn.
“So, we are looking into more technologies whereby fertilizer briquettes are applied deep in the soil, which is close to the plant roots. This can significantly increase fertilizer efficiency and productivity,” the farming expert said.
Read: Energy sector holds huge cooperation potential between Nepal and Bangladesh: Nepalese envoy tells Cosmos Dialogue
The project, which will use climate smart technologies, including digital applications and better seed varieties, would assist an estimated 900,000 smallholder farmers.
Duijn said there are already innovations including saline tolerant vegetables, which can absorb salinity out of soil and help grow other crops. Introducing such vegetables can be very helpful.
Agriculture Ministry Secretary Wahida Akter said often high labour cost becomes an issue, especially during the peak harvesting and planting seasons. So, promoting farm machinery can be very useful.
Read: New program by Australia, IFC to mobilise $50 million to support post-COVID inclusive growth in Bangladesh
Dr Muhammad Khan, director of Economic Growth Programmes of USAID Bangladesh, and Dr Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, executive chairman of BARC, also spoke at the programme.
Palestinian Ambassador says Nur met with Israel's Mossad 3 times
Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef SY Ramadan today said Nurul Haque Nur, member secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, had three meetings with Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, and is a “threat to Bangladesh’s security and stability.”
“...He will be disturbing the security and stability of Bangladesh as much as doing the same to Palestine,” the envoy said.
“If he wants to challenge me, he needs to challenge the source. Let him challenge if he wants,” the ambassador told UNB.
Ambassador Ramadan said Nur is betraying his country, going against the principle of Bangladesh and its people.
The envoy said he made a statement back in 2015 that any kind of relationship between a Bangladeshi public figure or politician and Israel is considered “political suicide.”
He said if Nur denies this, it’s good enough for him. “I will consider it good enough. But is that good enough for the government of Bangladesh and the security forces of Bangladesh?” — the ambassador posed a question.
The Palestine envoy said it was during the World Cup Football in Qatar when it first came to their attention.
“Our intelligence sources were interested in this. They were able to get some photos when he was meeting with Safadi,” he said, adding that there were other meetings that took place in other countries including in UAE and Qatar.
Earlier, a small group of journalists were talking to him on the Rohingya issue and one of them questioned him about Nur.
The Palestinian ambassador also asked the Bangladesh government to seriously look into the matter.
US invests $35 million for new climate-smart agriculture project in Bangladesh
Representatives from the US Embassy, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) on Thursday launched the five-year, $35 million Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity to help Bangladeshi farmers mitigate climate impacts and increase their production.
With U.S. government funding via the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the IFDC will collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture to teach smallholder farmers in southern districts of the country to adopt climate-smart cultivation techniques like using improved seeds and maximizing fertilizer usage.
The project will also bring together private sector firms, agri-input service providers, and public sector actors to build resilience throughout the sector using climate-smart technologies and practices.
Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Wahida Akter joined Dr. Muhammad Khan, USAID/Bangladesh’s Director of Economic Growth Programs, Henk van Duijn, President and CEO of IFDC, and Dr. Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) and unveiled the new project at the BARC auditorium.
Read: USAID trade activity launches 2 new Easy Export Series editions for agro exporters
In addition to addressing climate change, the Feed the Future Climate-Smart Agriculture project will help Bangladesh overcome challenges stemming from the global COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The project will also save fertilizer use by farmers, save fertilizer subsidy costs, and increase the overall production of crops.
Read: USAID Trade Activity to publish agro-export guideline for Gulf countries
The U.S. government has provided more than $8 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since its independence.
Last year alone, USAID funding included $200 million to improve the lives of people in Bangladesh through programs that expand food security and economic opportunity, improve health and education, promote democratic institutions and practices, protect the environment, and increase resilience to climate change.
Read more: USAID announces $75 million assistance for Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar, host community
Energy sector holds huge cooperation potential between Nepal and Bangladesh: Nepalese envoy tells Cosmos Dialogue
Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari on Thursday said his country sees huge potential to cooperate with Dhaka in five key areas including in the energy sector setting milestones in bilateral and sub-regional cooperation.
“We are encouraged by the decision of the government of India to facilitate the first trilateral power transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh, through the Indian grid with an export of upto 40 MW. This is just a baby step and a symbolic one. But this will be a huge milestone to kick start a new drive for our bilateral and, in fact, the sub-regional cooperation in energy,” he said.
In addition, the ambassador said, talks are also underway for the joint investment in 683 MW Sunkoshi III hydropower project in Nepal.
“I understand Bangladesh authorities are engaged with GMR Company of India in finalizing the deal for 500 MW of electricity from Upper Karnali,” he said.
The Nepalese ambassador was delivering a keynote speech at Cosmos Dialogue titled “Bangladesh-Nepal Relations: Prognosis for the Future” in the city which was organized as part of “Ambassadors' Lecture Series” by Cosmos Foundation.
Former Bangladesh High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to the United States and Honorary Emeritus Advisor, Cosmos Foundation Tariq A Karim chaired the discussion while Cosmos Foundation Vice President Masud Khan delivered welcome and closing remarks.
Former Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister of Nepaql Hari Sharma, Dhaka University International Relations Department Prof Lailufar Yasmin and Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, East West University Parvez Karim Abbasi, among others, spoke at the symposium. Cosmos Foundation Chairman Enayetullah Khan was also present.
Read: Cosmos Dialogue on Foreign Policy begins in city