foreign-affairs
Joint efforts on climate front can make a difference: US
Highlighting the importance of mobilizing youth leaders, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Helen LaFave has said climate action is a lot of work and they can make a difference if they work together.
“This is why we emphasize the need to mobilize youth leaders. They are not only future leaders of Bangladesh; they are already talented leaders in their schools and in their communities now,” LaFave said on Sunday.
She joined PM's special envoy for climate change Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) Vice Chancellor Tanweer Hasan for a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) youth-led campaign to mobilize action to mitigate climate change and protect the environment.
Bangladesh committed to ecology, biodiversity protection despite resource constraints: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday assured local and international partners that the government remains sensitized to its obligations and responsibilities for environmental and ecological protection, and have been advancing towards fulfilling those obligations in a coordinated, decisive and phased manner.
"We believe it is imperative to place ecology at the fulcrum of national, regional and global policies to combat growing threats to the world’s food, water and survival systems," he said.
Momen said Bangladesh’s commitment to ecology and biodiversity protection has remained a constant in their State policy despite its resource constraints and high population density.
The Foreign Minister was speaking at a policy dialogue on ‘Equity and Co-management of Baikka Beel Permanent Wetland Sanctuary’ facilitated by International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCD).
FM in Kenya to attend 2nd UN-HABITAT Assembly being held in Nairobi
The Foreign Minister said USAID funded Protibesh programme has been critical in promoting community-based management of the Baikka Beel, with support from the concerned government entities.
It appears that there are some procedural issues concerning Baikka Beel’s management, which perhaps need to be placed in the right context, he said.
"Be that as it may, the preservation and management experience with Baikka Beel is certainly an educational one for other ecologically critical areas in the country."
Momen said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had enacted the Wildlife Preservation Order as early as in 1973.
Bangladesh an important political, trade, economic partner in South Asia: Belarusian FM
Following his lead, he said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government inserted Article 18A in our Constitution, which stipulates, “The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to preserve and safeguard natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wild life for the present and future citizens.”
The Foreign Minister said they cannot achieve their goals in a month or a year, but through their sustained and focused efforts, they can indeed reach their desired objectives.
"Bangladesh, as a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, remains committed to the conservation of our designated wetlands," he said.
Two Ramsar sites, the Sundarbans and Tanguar Haor, have emerged as popular tourist destinations with growing public awareness about respecting their ecological fragilities.
Hakaluki Haor, a biodiversity hotspot, awaits declaration as our third Ramsar site.
"There should perhaps be similar consideration and initiatives with Baikka Beel in the broader context of the Hail Haor," he said.
Momen said they need to approach the issue of preserving these wetlands from the long-term perspective of Prime Minister’s legacy of the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100.
Peace, tolerance keys to stability, security, Momen tells OIC CFM
Speaking of wetlands, Baikka Beel permanent wetland sanctuary serves as a critical habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including several endangered species, in the larger Sylhet region, he said.
"However, I understand that the existing infrastructure in Baikka Beel is inadequate to support a secure and sustainable nature tourism venture," Momen said.
"It is essential that we invest in improving the infrastructure and developing facilities that cater to the needs of eco-conscious tourists," he mentioned.
Simultaneously, Momen said, they must enhance the capacity of the local management bodies by formulating a long-term strategy, creating promotional materials, and providing training to eco-tour guides.
He underlined the government’s unequivocal commitment to promoting nature-based solutions for preserving ecologically critical and protected areas.
"As we strive to preserve the biodiversity of Baikka Beel, let us remember our responsibility to our future generations and thus unite in our efforts to forge a path towards a sustainable future for this invaluable wetland sanctuary," he said.
US wants to see Bangladesh as a resilient Indo-Pacific partner, reevaluates Country Development Cooperation Strategy
The United States wants to see Bangladesh as a more inclusive, democratic and prosperous country, and a resilient Indo-Pacific partner.
The USAID re-evaluated its Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for Bangladesh and amended the plan to address evolving needs through 2027.
This CDCS was originally developed and finalized in 2020. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, USAID re-evaluated the strategy in 2023.
The CDCS goal is for Bangladesh to be a “more inclusive, democratic, prosperous, and resilient Indo-Pacific partner.”
The Country Development Cooperation Strategy reflects the Mission’s approach to working with a more mature government of Bangladesh, according to USAID.
Read: USAID Trade Activity to publish agro-export guideline for Gulf countries
Through this strategy, USAID builds on past work in economic growth, education, health, energy, environment, climate change, food security, disaster preparedness, democracy, human rights, and good governance using programming approaches that capitalize on the interdependence of development sectors.
The CDCS focuses on inclusive and integrated development efforts to drive greater impact across four development objectives.
These are strengthening democracy for an inclusive society, fostering sustainable economic growth, advancing human capital development and strengthening resilience to climate change and other shocks.
Bangladesh’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy 2020-2027 presents USAID’s approach to furthering the country’s development, according to the USAID.
The strategy acknowledges Bangladesh’s challenges and leverages its assets as an important and longstanding development partner.
Bangladesh is a strategically important country in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region due to its geographic location connecting South and Southeast Asia, substantive security and development ties with the United States, and decades of consistent economic growth, according to the 27-page document published this month.
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries with major challenges in poverty, governance, inclusive development, and institutional and civil society capacity, it mentioned.
Bangladesh is also home to one of the largest and fastest-growing youth populations, with nearly 30 percent of its population of 165 million between the ages of 15 and 29.
Bangladesh hosts one-fifth of the world’s refugee population, primarily consisting of the displaced Rohingya population, and has the largest refugee camp in the world.
Rapid urbanization coupled with a rapidly growing economy have put unsustainable pressures on infrastructure, basic services, natural resources, and the environment.
Read: USAID announces $75 million assistance for Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar, host community
Impacts of Ukraine War on Bangladesh Economy
The USAID said the war in Ukraine has also impacted Bangladesh’s economy, food security, and poverty levels, while
at the same time revealing some of the underlying vulnerabilities in the country’s fiscal and financial systems.
Since the war in Ukraine began, foreign reserves have dropped, the taka has depreciated by close to 25 percent, and the trade deficit has grown by 8 percent as of November 2022, the strategy paper reads.
Inflation has also been increasing, especially in food, fertilizer, and fuel, such that in August 2022 the price of fuel increased by over 40 percent, it mentioned.
In response, it said, the government of Bangladesh has implemented a number of measures aimed at preserving food security and retaining fiscal space, including dramatically increasing the subsidy on fertilizers and restructuring its fuel subsidy.
With rising non-performing loans and poor financial sector governance, banks have been poorly positioned to help the country weather the crisis, said the USAID document.
Overall, the fallout from the Russia-Ukraine war has underscored the need to reform Bangladesh’s weak tax collection system, costly subsidies, and financial sector governance, it mentioned.
USAID said it contributes to creating a business-enabling environment through policy strengthening, building strategic partnerships, expanding access to economic opportunities and finances.
Read more: USAID: Some structural issues to be fixed in Bhasan Char
USAID activities support the Bangladesh government’s efforts to strengthen and streamline policies and regulations for better compliance with international standards in the areas of trade and business processes, it said.
Opportunities for Rohingya and Host Community
Repatriation efforts are stalled because conditions are “not conducive” for refugee returns to Myanmar while the government of Bangladesh’s consistent message is that the “Rohingya must return” to Myanmar.
The Rohingya situation is a prolonged crisis that is likely to exceed the CDCS period and requires long-term strategic planning with coordinated international investments.
The Mission supports Rohingya refugees and host communities directly impacted by the Rohingya crisis, according to USAID.
In line with the Joint Response Plan’s strategic and sector priorities and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) mandate to provide food and nutrition assistance to refugee populations, USAID will continue to provide essential food assistance through an e-voucher system to Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
Given the multifaceted nature of the challenges facing the host communities, USAID will undertake economic growth and livelihood development interventions; natural resources management; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), with an emphasis on access to clean drinking water; and disaster risk reduction.
USAID will follow an integrated approach and will closely coordinate with other interventions in the area to maximize impact.
To address the long-term and emerging needs of both the Rohingya and host and impacted communities, USAID adopts the humanitarian, development and peace nexus to promote systemic collaboration with the GoB, donors, development and humanitarian assistance partners, CSOs, and nongovernmental organizations.
This coordination in programming will lead to improved humanitarian and development assistance that is better planned, funded, and delivered. Collaboration among stakeholders is essential to achieving efficient use of resources and sustainability of the Rohingya response, according to USAID.
Sampriti Bangladesh protests congressmen's letter to Biden
Sampriti Bangladesh, a social platform comprising prominent citizens, protested the letter sent by six United States congressmen to US President Joe Biden about the situation of minorities in Bangladesh for ‘containing untrue information’.
In a press release on Saturday, the organization said, “Propaganda is being carried out at home and abroad based on the aforementioned letters from congressmen. We are shocked by this dirty conspiracy to destroy the image of secular Bangladesh achieved at the cost of three million Bengalis’ blood.”
Read: Not aware of six Congressmen’s letter to Biden on Bangladesh: US Spokesperson
“How sensitive Sheikh Hasina herself is to minorities need not to say anything new. At the same time, we have been realizing the trust of minorities in her while working at the grassroots level,” the press release reads.
The propaganda being spread at home and abroad based on such false information is not only harmful to Bangladesh but also equal to disrespect and insult to the traditional culture of non-communal and harmony of Bangladesh and the Bengali nation, it said.
Read: Around 200 prominent Bangladeshi Americans say 6 US congressmen’s letter ignores BNP-Jamaat persecution of Hindus in 2001
We strongly condemn the well-planned propaganda based on the letter containing untrue information from U.S. Congressmen.
Bangladesh, Sweden exchange views on Rohingya crisis, Indo-Pacific, climate change
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam has exchanged views on different bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interests and concerns with the cross-party Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Swedish Parliament Riksdag in Stockholm.
The two sides, on June 16, also exchanged views on Swedish development cooperation support to Bangladesh, bilateral trade and investment cooperation, and Bangladesh’s National Action Plan on the labour sector.
Also Read: Sweden keen to collaborate in IT development, green transition
They also discussed possible cooperation between the two countries in IT and fintech sectors and green transition, Bangladesh-EU 50 years of partnership, Rohingya crisis, climate change, war in Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The State Minister briefed the Swedish Parliamentary Committee on the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, particularly over the last 14 years, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ‘Vision 2041’.
Also Read: Dhaka seeks ASEAN’s active role for repatriation of Rohingyas
Committee Chairman Aron Emilsson (Sweden Democrats), Deputy Chairman Morgan Johansson (Swedish Social Democratic Party), and members Margareta Cederfelt (Moderate Party), Jacob Risberg (Green Party) and Magnus Berntsson (Christian Democrats) from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riksdag joined the views exchange meeting while the State Minister was accompanied by Bangladesh Ambassador to Sweden, Mehdi Hasan, and Director General (West Europe & EU) of MOFA Kazi Russel Pervez.
Also Read: WTO chief meets PM Hasina, wants Dhaka to reduce subsidies on fisheries
Global congress to establish standards for marketing of breast-milk substitutes next week
Some 130 countries are going to commit to take action on harmful industry marketing of formula milk at a global congress in Geneva from Tuesday to Thursday next week ( June 20-22).
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will host the first Global Congress on the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
During this event, 130 countries will discuss and share knowledge and strategies to end the unethical marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
Sweden keen to collaborate in IT development, green transition
Sweden has appreciated Bangladesh’s achievements in the IT sector and climate change adaptation and expressed their keenness to collaborate with Bangladesh on IT sector development and green transition.
Terming Asia as the engine of growth and highly praising Bangladesh’s high economic growth, Swedish State Secretary for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Håkan Jevrell also expressed Sweden’s desire to enhance trade and investment relations with Bangladesh in the context of evolving geo-political developments.
Read: WTO chief meets PM Hasina, wants Dhaka to reduce subsidies on fisheries
The Swedish State Secretary shared this with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam in a meeting in Stockholm on Friday.
Highlighting Bangladesh government’s plans and programmes for digitalization, State Minister Alam suggested close cooperation between the two countries on software technology, 4iR-enabled agriculture and human resources development.
PM leaves Geneva for home ending 3-day visit
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday left Geneva for home, wrapping up her three-day official visit to Switzerland.
A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage departed Geneva International Airport at 11:50am local time (3:50pm Bangladesh time).
The flight is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 01.30am on Saturday.
The PM went to Geneva on June 13 to attend the "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All" held on June 14 and 15 in the Swiss city.
She addressed the plenary session of 'World of Work Summit 2023' at Palais de Nations on Wednesday.
The ILO's summit is a high-level forum for global voices to address the need for increased, coordinated and coherent action in support of social justice.
Read: PM leaves Doha for home ending 3-day visit
The summit brought together over a dozen heads of state and government, high-level representatives from the United Nations, other international organizations, and employers’ and workers’ organizations.
Hasina also had two separate meetings with President of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa and President of Malta Dr George Vella.
Besides, she held meetings separately with UNHCR chief Flippo Grandi, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset and Director General of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo there on the day.
After the meeting with Swiss President Berset, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Knowledge and Skills enhancement between Bangladesh and Switzerland was signed.
In the evening, the PM attended a dinner with high level dignitaries hosted by the ILO Director General at its headquarters.
Read:PM leaves London for home, ending 15-day foreign visit
On June 15, she joined “A talk at the WEF”, followed by a meeting with WEF founder Prof Klaus Schwab at WEF Office.
She also addressed an event on “New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh” organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF) there.
Besides, Qatar Minister of Labour Dr Ali Bin Samik Al Marri and WTO Director General Dr Okonjo-Iweala separately met her at her place of residence.
Hasina also attended a civic reception in the evening.
Read more: PM leaves Washington for home via London
Dhaka seeks ASEAN’s active role for repatriation of Rohingyas
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam has underscored an active role of the regional countries including ASEAN for the safe and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He also laid emphasis on efforts to end the armed conflicts and ensure a peaceful transition to a civilian administration through elections in Myanmar.
The state minister shared the views at the two-day Oslo Forum hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway in association with the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue on June 13-14 in Oslo, Norway.
Also read: As of June 2023, Joint Response Plan for Rohingyas received 28% funding: UNHCR
The event drew retreats for over 100 international mediators and experts in sharing their perspectives and assessing the state of mediation and peacemaking against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions and rivalry, increasing conflict and the growing impact of climate change, social media and other factors that fuel conflicts.
The Forum held open discussion on diplomatic developments in geopolitical hotspots, particularly war in Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, and other conflict areas, including Myanmar, Afghanistan, Somalia, Ethiopia as well as ways to prevent, interrupt or end conflicts, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
The Oslo Forum 2023 was opened by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and attended by, among others, Foreign Ministers of Norway, Indonesia and Colombia, and Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
Also read: Japan provides critical funding to WFP’s lifesaving food assistance for Rohingyas
Shahriar attended the event at the invitation of Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.
In Oslo, Shahriar also held bilateral meetings with the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Bjørnar Selnes Skjæran and State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Erling Rimestad.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Sweden, Norway and Finland Mehdi Hasan and Director General (West Europe and EU) of Foreign Ministry Kazi Russel Pervez accompanied the state minister during the visit.
Also read: UN asked to engage more effectively with Myanmar to commence Rohingya repatriation
WTO chief meets PM Hasina, wants Dhaka to reduce subsidies on fisheries
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has asked Bangladesh to reduce the subsidies on fisheries.
It came from Dr Okonjo Iwela, director general of WTO, on Thursday when she called on visiting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting room of Hotel President here.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed the reporters about the outcome of the meeting.
Also read: Bangladesh’s economy has a dignified position now: PM
He quoted the WTO DG as saying that her organization would like to sign an agreement with Bangladesh in this regard.
“We said we will consider this (the issue of subsidy)," said Momen adding that Bangladesh does not give heavy subsidies on fisheries though.
The WTO chief mentioned about the dispute settlement body of the organisation which has remained inactive for a couple of years due to some big countries.
Also read: PM for collective work to protect world children from communicable diseases
Dr Iwela requested the prime minister to raise the issue when she goes to the G-20 meeting to be held in next September in New Delhi and other international forums, according to Momen.
“This is the main strength of the WTO,” she was quoted as telling the prime minister.
The WTO DG asked Bangladesh to diversify its expert basket.
Also read: Don’t allow Fourth Industrial Revolution to undermine humanity: PM Hasina
In this connection she wanted Bangladesh to put emphasis on pharmaceuticals and IT sector reducing dependency on RMG export, the key foreign exchange earner of the country.
Regarding fishing in deep sea PM Hasina said that Bangladesh lacks in capabilities in this sector.
She put emphasis on learning from the experience from Japan, Thailand and the Maldives in deep sea fishing.
The prime minister said that she has already talked with the Maldives and Japan in this regard.
Earlier, Qatar’s Labour Minister Dr Ali Bin Samik Al Marri called the prime minister at the same venue.
Also read: Prepare youth to face the challenges of emerging world order: PM Hasina at World of Work summit
He said there are some 3.70 lakh Bangladeshis working in his country.
He said that they are satisfied with the performance of the Bangladeshi workers.
“Qatar has expressed their interest to take more manpower from Bangladesh. They will ink an agreement for this purpose,” Momen said.