foreign-affairs
Bangladesh sees potential for cooperation in expanding digital economy with Kosovo
State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said there is a lot of potential for partnership and cooperation with Kosovo in the areas of e-commerce, online marketplaces and online payment gateways.
“We are connected and dependent in this globalised world. The future lies in planning today for an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. We all must be on this journey together,” he said.
The state minister said cooperation and partnership with software development companies and IT outsourcing in Kosovo could be an excellent opportunity for Bangladesh to start a mutual collaboration.
“If you want to go fast and far, innovate together,” he said, quoting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and emphasised working together to build a better world.
The state minister was speaking at a reception hosted by Kosovo Ambassador to Bangladesh Güner Ureya and his wife Umeri-Ureya on the occasion of the 15th Anniversary of the Independence of Kosovo held Sunday night at a hotel in Dhaka.
Palak said Bangladesh has a strong commitment to fostering friendship and cooperation with all the nations.
Ambassador Güner said despite many challenges and difficulties, Kosovars are immensely proud of the progress of their country and people.
After the liberation, with the support of the majority of the international community, including Bangladesh, Kosovo had a transitional period of fewer than nine years, he said, mentioning that Kosovo declared its independence on February 17, 2008.
“The Republic of Kosovo, the youngest country in Europe, has advanced remarkably in every area over the past 15 years. Today we have a functional, prosperous, stable and multi-ethnic state with a diverse society and steadily growing economy,” said the ambassador.
He hoped that his beautiful country would be recognised by all South Asian countries.
“We have good dialogue with some countries which still don't recognise us, but this is not enough. We deserve and need official recognition. For example, Bangladesh, one of the South Asian countries, as well as Pakistan and the Maldives recognised us and now we have a friendly and very close relationship with them,” said the envoy.
He said they also want to establish diplomatic relations and develop cooperation with other South Asian countries, such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
Despite difficulties and challenges, he said, Kosovo will continue to strengthen itself, contribute to regional peace, integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures, and move forward as a respected entity of the international community.
Current and former diplomats, senior officials from the ministry of foreign affairs and business leaders were present at the event.
Read more: Kosovo says its excellent relation with Bangladesh a model
Pranay Verma highlights importance of youth as "precious link" between Bangladesh, India
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Sunday emphasized the importance of the youth as a "precious link" between Bangladesh and India.
Speaking at a function, he expressed his conviction in the "ability of the vibrant and dynamic youth" of Bangladesh in building closer ties between the two countries, and establishing strong bonds of friendship based on mutual respect and understanding.
The High Commissioner also highlighted the significance of the ties between India and Bangladesh, which are rooted in the shared sacrifices of the Liberation War.
He expressed his confidence that the Bangladesh Youth Delegation alumni, through their diverse backgrounds and experiences will make a significant contribution to their communities, their country, and to the world.
Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and High Commissioner Pranay Verma jointly inaugurated the Bangladesh Youth Delegation (BYD) Corner in the Indian Cultural Centre in Gulshan as part of High Commission’s outreach initiatives to engage with the youth of Bangladesh.
The event was part of programme to reconnect with the alumni of the Bangladesh Youth Delegations.
China's Handa shows interest in setting up MMF-based fabric factory in Bangladesh
China-based apparel manufacturing company Handa has shown interest in setting up an MMF-based fabric factory in Bangladesh.
Deng Peilei, vice-president of Handa Industries and Takashi Nakahashi, general manager of MN Inter-Fashion, met with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Acting President Md Shahidullah Azim in Dhaka Sunday.
They sought the support of the BGMEA in setting up a garment factory in Bangladesh and also talked about the market potential of MMF-based high-value-added apparel.
Handa has manufacturing units in China, Myanmar, and Egypt. They export apparel worth more than $2 billion to the EU and Japan.
MN is a Japanese buying house operating its business for more than six years in Bangladesh.
Shahidullah said the BGMEA has already prioritised the non-cotton segment – particularly MMF and polyester.
"Since the BGMEA envisages exporting apparel worth $100 billion by 2030 as part of its strategic growth target, there will be a huge opportunity in the non-cotton garment segment and backward linkage industries, where we need more foreign investments," he added.
FM scheduled to leave for US Sunday night
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen is scheduled to leave here for the US on Sunday night to attend several events there.
He is expected to inaugurate a newly constructed Shaheed Minar, an initiative of expatriate Bangladeshis, in the city of Paris, Los Angeles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told the reporters during a weekly briefing on Thursday.
Also read: FM Momen likely to visit US this month
Momen will also inaugurate a Bangladesh Corner at a public library there. He will also deliver a lecture on climate change.
On February 23, Momen will attend several meetings at the UN headquarters in New York, said Seheli.
Bangladesh excels in pragmatic foreign policy: Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury
Citing the example of Bangladesh’s pragmatism in foreign policy interactions, renowned scholar-diplomat and former Advisor on Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has said Bangladesh often takes dual approach, meaning high profile in low-risk environment and low profile in high-risk environment.
In a constellation of play of power, small and middle powers have to find their own place for interaction, said Chowdhury, also honorary fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore (NUS).
He emphasized on the point that in order to understand the foreign policy of a country, understanding its historical foundation and elite behavior is important.
As a keynote speaker at a “Lecture Club Discussion” on “Foundations of Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy Interactions” on Saturday, he also talked about the growing importance of soft power in foreign policy interactions and cited the example of non-formal primary education concept promulgated by BRAC.
Chowdhury said Bangladesh possessed non-technological or intellectual resources that can be pressed into the service of foreign policy as 'soft-power”.
He deliberated on the increasing importance of economic diplomacy.
Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) recently organized a lecture club discussion on one of the core topics of national security, the eminent issue of the ‘Foundation of Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy Interactions’.
The event was moderated by BIPSS President Major General A N M Muniruzzaman (Retd).
The BIPSS president said the preservation of national sovereignty and national interest should be the prime focus in maintaining the foreign policy interactions of Bangladesh.
Dr Chowdhury in his keynote speech said that historically the essential attribute that distinguishes the present day Bangladeshis from the major regional communities is their ‘Muslimness’ and ‘Bengaliness’.
These are invoked when one or the other attribute is threatened. This behavioral pattern forms a part of the political heritage of the Bangladeshis and largely guides the international interactions of their sovereign country.
He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s guiding principle of 'friendship towards all and malice towards none' was derived from the complexities of such historical experience.
Upon achieving sovereignty, Bangladeshi had two broad aspirations, first the preservation of security and second the quest for resources for development, he said.
“These led to the need for the creation of a web of extra-regional linkages. The country was also driven by the need to live in concord with but distinct from the powerful neighbor, India,” he was quoted as saying in a media release issued by the BIPSS on Sunday.
Static and dynamic compulsions led to five behavioral characteristics in foreign policy interactions; one, extreme circumspection and avoidance of flashy politics; two, joining as many wider groupings of countries as possible; three, taking 'higher profile' on low-risk issues, and 'lower -profile' on high risk issues'; four, conformity to as many global club-rules among nation-states as possible, and finally emphasizing relations with multilateral institutions, he said.
The moderator said the international system is in a flux and major shifts in the regional and international systems are visible.
“It is time for Bangladeshi diplomats and security thinkers to take note of the system that is about to emerge internationally so that Bangladesh can maintain its strategic position and interest,” he said.
Diplomats stationed in Dhaka, former Chief of Air Staff, former foreign secretaries, heads of international organizations, former senior military and civil officials, editors and members of academia, among others, were present.
UK wants level-playing field for foreign companies in Bangladesh
The United Kingdom (UK) on Sunday underlined the importance of maintaining a level-playing field for foreign companies interested in investing and operating in Bangladesh.
The UK invited Bangladesh to engage with the UK private sector to pursue a commercial dispute resolution system to unlock the full potential of Foreign Direct Investment into Bangladesh.
At the Bangladesh-UK Trade and Investment Dialogue 2023 held in Dhaka, the UK stressed the importance of Bangladesh putting in place economic policies and systems to achieve its ambition of rapid, sustainable and green economic development; and pledged its ongoing cooperation, according to a joint communique.
Also read:; UK to review security after unknown objects puzzle N America
German parliamentary delegation to visit Bangladesh from February 22-26
A delegation of six German parliament members will pay an official visit to Bangladesh from February 22 to 26 to “foster the strong ties” between the two nations further, said the German Embassy in Dhaka on Sunday.
Renate Kunast, the Chairperson of the German-South Asian Parliamentary Group and a former German Minister, will lead the delegation.
Read more: Envoys impressed with facilities for Rohingyas at Bhasan Char: MoFA
During the visit, the delegation will meet with representatives of the legislative and executive organs of Bangladesh as well as a variety of members of civil society and business circles.
They will discuss with their Bangladeshi counterparts various issues of mutual concern, including the deepening of the 50-year-long bilateral relations, politics, climate change, human rights, trade, migration, development cooperation and women empowerment.
The delegation consists of Renate Künast, MP; Dr André Hahn, MP; Paul Lehrieder, MP; Ria Schröder, MP; Andreas Larem, MP and Dr Malte Kaufmann, MP.
BGMEA seeks stronger diplomatic efforts to expand RMG market
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has met with Bangladesh Ambassador to France Khondker M Talha at the embassy in Paris to discuss ways to strengthen trade ties with France.
They had discussions about issues pertaining to the RMG industry of Bangladesh including its current and upcoming challenges, particularly how Bangladesh could sustain trade competitiveness in the European market even after the country’s LDC graduation.
During the meeting held on February 17, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan stressed the importance of stepping up diplomatic efforts to create more trade opportunities in the French market.
He sought the embassy’s cooperation in identifying trade potential in the French market for Bangladesh’s RMG exports as well as other promising industries.He apprised the ambassador of the industry’s aim to move to the next level of development with high-end products in the global market.
He requested the envoy to convey the success stories of the industry, especially in the areas of workplace safety, environmental sustainability and worker’s welfare to the high-level of the French government and other stakeholders, BGMEA said in a media release on Saturday.
Ambassador Khondker M Talha appreciated the role of the industry in Bangladesh’s development and assured the BGMEA President of the embassy’s full support in promoting the interests of the RMG industry.
The meeting was also attended by Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee of Press, Publication and Publicity Shovon Islam, Commercial Counsellor Ms. Dilara Begum and other high officials.
Envoys impressed with facilities for Rohingyas at Bhasan Char: MoFA
Envoys of four countries who visited Bhasan Char on Friday were impressed with facilities and scopes for Rohingyas available there, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said today.
A 16 member high profile delegation, including four envoys and representatives of the United Nations, paid a visit to Bhasan Char island in the Bay of Bengal to observe the overall situation of Rohingyas in person.
The delegation was led by Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah, and included Japanese envoy Kiminori Iwama, French envoy Marie Masdupuy, Indonesian envoy Heru Hartanto Subolo, Chinese envoy Yao Wen, UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis, Representative at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Johannes van der Klaauw, and World Food Program Officer-in-Charge Simone Lawson Parchment.
Apart from them, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Finance Secretary Fatima Yasmin, Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Secretary Md Kamrul Hasan, Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, its Director General (admin) Md Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui were also part of the visiting team.
The visit to Bhasan Char was hosted to discuss progress on the island and support to the approximately 30000 Rohingya living there.
"Increasing community self-reliance is a priority, particularly given the increased humanitarian funding challenges," UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis tweeted.
Bangladeshi youth shot dead by BSF in Indian territory, say locals
India’s Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead a Bangladeshi youth in their territory along the Hili land port in Dinajpur on Friday night, locals in the Bangladesh side said.
The deceased — Shahabul Hossain Babu, 24 — was the son of Abul Hossain of Dharanda village under Hakimpur upazila.
Md Rafiqul Islam, a ward councilor of Hakimpur municipality, said Babu accompanied by others crossed into the Indian territory along the Hili border on Friday night.
"We heard sounds of two rounds of bullets from the Indian side and subsequently came to know that Babu was shot dead by the BSF,” he said.
Read more: 2 Bangladeshis shot dead in BSF firing in Lalmonirhat
Lt Col Md Rafiqul lslam, a commandant at BGB-20 battalion, confirmed the incident saying that the body is yet to be handed over to them from the BSF side.
A flag meeting on this will be held soon, he added.