foreign-affairs
Netherlands to send trade mission to Bangladesh next year
The Netherlands will send a trade mission to Bangladesh next year to extend support in the agriculture sector and strengthen trade relations between the two countries.
Foreign Trade and Development Minister of the Netherlands Tom De Brujin said this on Wednesday at a meeting with Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzaque at the Hague.
The Dutch minister said trade ties between the two countries will be strengthened involving private sector in food, water and energy issues and the embassies of the two countries will take necessary steps in this regard.
Abdur Razzque requested the Dutch minister to increase the number of scholarships for Bangladeshi students seeking higher studies in the Netherlands in agricultural.
Besides, the minister wanted Dutch assistance to retain the trade privileges for Bangladesh in exporting goods to the European Union countries even after its graduation to a middle-income country.
“Bangladesh needs Netherlands’ knowledge, technology, innovation and solution in agriculture and we want the support on win-win basis,” he said.
Both the ministers expressed hope over advancing the agricultural ties between the two countries to the next level within a year and a half at the meeting.
Later Abdur Razzaque met Vice Minister of Agricultural and Natural Resource Ministry of Netherlands Groet.
Abdur Razzaque sought Dutch support for establishing supply chain, agricultural mechanization and to build modern packaging houses in Bangladesh.
The minister also invited Dutch private sectors to build agro innovation labs and join in building high quality storage facilities in Bangladesh for speeding up the mechanization process.
Nasrul Hamid visits Redbridge; highlights impacts of climate change on Bangladesh
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has visited the Redbridge Town Hall, a municipal building in London, and met Councillor Roy Emmett, the mayor of Redbridge.
He was accompanied by Nahim Razzak MP, a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs as a special guest, and two senior journalists Mahfuz Mishu and Ishrat Jahan Urmi from Bangladesh delegation at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.
The group was welcomed to the Town Hall by the mayor and Councillor Jas Athwal, leader of the Redbridge council, followed by a citizen engagement session at the council chambers.
Speaking about the impacts of climate change Nasrul Hamid said, "Bangladesh is one of the countries hit hardest by global warming" and called for the much-needed action from the responsible countries to tackle these damages as well as safeguard the environment.
He highlighted Bangladesh's journey towards a clean and green energy sector and the challenges of being a densely populated country.
Kamal urges contiued UN and EU support to Bangladesh
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has voiced optimist that the United Nations would always support Bangladesh in achieving its development goals.
He said Bangladesh will be free from hunger and poverty by 2030.
The finance minister came up with remark while Mia Seppo, the outgoing UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, called on him at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday.
Also read: We have failed to sell the PPP idea properly, says Mustafa Kamal
During the meeting they discussed cooperation on economic progress, recovery of pandemic hit economy, employment, women's development and empowerment.
Mia Seppo praised Bangladesh's economic progress, women's employment and women's empowerment, and hoped that Bangladesh’s cooperation with the UN would be further strengthened in the future.
Referring to the continuation of the long standing relations between the UN and Bangladesh, she said the UN was working for the advancement of women, women's empowerment and socio-economic development in Bangladesh.
Mia Seppo said the UN will continue to support Bangladesh in achieving the Eighth Five-Year Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She said his four-year tenure in Bangladesh would be a bright memory in his life and thanked for the overall cooperation during her service tenure in Dhaka.
Earlier, the new European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley paid a courtesy call on the finance minister.
The minister called upon the EU to continue the priority given to Bangladesh in the field of trade despite its transition from a least developed country to a developing one.
Also read: Govt to revisit decision about rate cut of postal savings: Mustafa Kamal
He said the EU is the largest destination for Bangladesh's export products and Bangladesh is one of the most attractive places for global investors.
Kamal hoped that existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and the EU will be continued to grow.
Bangladeshi students selected for higher studies in Russian universities to fly soon
Bangladeshi students who got selected during 2020-2021 for higher studies in different Russian universities under scholarships provided by the Government of the Russian Federation will soon fly for Russia.
They got stuck due to COVID-19 situation.
A farewell meeting was held recently at the Russian House in Dhaka for all of them.
Read: Railways Minister seeks Russian investment in railway sector
Director of the Russian House in Dhaka Maxim Dobrokhotov appreciated the decision of Bangladeshi youth for choosing Russia as destination of higher education.
He spoke with farewell words for their very happy stay underlining that after a long wait they will be finally able to reach Russia and extended his best luck to all of them.
‘Lighting the Fire of freedom: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’ travels to Toronto
To celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50th year of Bangladesh, "Lighting the Fire of Freedom: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman" exhibition from Dhaka Art Summit 2020, is set to travel to Art Gallery of Mississauga, Canada.
The exhibitions will open from November 15 and run until January 12, 2022 at the Art Gallery of Mississauga.
The first iteration of the exhibition in 2020, was produced by Samdani Art Foundation and the Centre for Research and Information (CRI) in partnership with ICT Division and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, during the Mujib 100 year.
Read: Artworks of ARTivism competition winners from Bangladesh on display at COP26
The exhibition was also visited by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with her family.
At the invitation of AGM in Toronto, Samdani Art Foundation and CRI are bringing the exhibition to Toronto for the Canadian audience to learn about the Nation’s founder.
“As we celebrate the 50th years of Bangladesh in 2021, it is imperative that we pause and look back at the ideas and values that drove our independence movement. Bangabandhu strove to create a Shonar Bangla where every woman, man and child could live with dignity, free from poverty and oppression, irrespective of their religion, ethnicity, or personal beliefs," said Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Trustee of CRI.
Curated by Ruxmini Reckvana Q Choudhury, "Lighting the Fire of Freedom: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman" offers intimate and little-known details about the life and work of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920-1975).
To celebrate his birth centenary, the exhibition takes visitors on a chronological journey of his life, mapping out the ways in which he addressed the challenges facing the land now known as Bangladesh.
Many of the materials are on display for the first time, including personal photographs, newspapers, historic video footage, interactive audiovisual content, and modern and contemporary artworks.
Paintings from celebrated artist Zainul Abedin, including from his iconic famine series depicting hunger and displacement in wartime colonial Bengal (1943–1944), will be shown alongside paintings from Bangladeshi artists such as Shahabuddin Ahmed, Kabir Ahmed Masum Chisty and Saiyad Saif Ali, that respond to Bangabandhu’s ideas and legacy.
Read: Political parties recall Noor Hossain’s contributions to democracy
Parallel to the exhibition, Lighting the Fire of Freedom, AGM is also hosting another exhibition ‘Art of a Young Nation: Bangladesh’ Co-curated by Ali Adil Khan and Ruxmini Reckvana Q Choudhury, Assistant Curator, Samdani Art Foundation, celebrates 50 years of Bangladesh, showcasing its vibrant arts and distinct culture from the past, the present and the future.
The 38 artists in this exhibition include Zainul Abedin, S.M. Sultan, Rashid Choudhury, Murtaja Baseer, Debdas Chakraborty, Mohammad Kibria, Monirul Islam, Qayyum Chowdhury, Hashem Khan, Shahabuddin Ahmed, Kalidas Karmakar, Biren Shome, Shahid Kabir, Kamal Kabir, Abdus Shakoor Shah, Farida Zaman, Rokeya Sultana, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Dilara Begum Jolly, Tayeba Begum Lipi, Hamiduzzaman Khan, Mahbubur Rahman, Mohammad Eunus, Mahmudul Haque, Mohammad Iqbal, Anisuzzaman Anis, Biswajit Goswami, Kuhu Plamondon, Nazia Andaleeb Preema, Vinita Karim, Bipasha Hayat, Maksuda Iqbal Nipa and from the diaspora, Alamgir Huque (Saskatoon), Syed Iqbal, Tajuddin Ahmed, Iftikaruddin Ahmed (Toronto), Mohammad Fakruzzaman (London, UK) and Md. Tokon (New York). Samdani Art Foundation has also partnered with this exhibition.
This is so far the largest celebration of the 50th year of Bangladesh and brth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman outside of Bangladesh in the sector of art, said the Samdani Art Foundation.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga is a public, not-for-profit, art gallery that provides platforms for exhibitions, collections and experimentation in contemporary culture with a recent focus on artists and cultural producers from Indigenous, newcomer and youth communities.
Denmark hosts exhibition on commercially viable, green solutions for Bangladesh
The Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh hosted a 5-day exhibition at Bay’s Edge Gallery, in the backdrop of COP26 taking place in Glasgow, to highlight commercially viable green solutions that can support sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Bangladesh.
Denmark’s ambitious goals to reduce carbon footprint and achieve sustainable growth is globally relevant, especially fast growing economy like Bangladesh, says its Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday.
Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Winnie Estrup Petersen emphasised that ‘‘the ‘Green Together’ exhibition embodies and shares with a Bangladeshi audience Denmark’s understanding of sustainability, which is a holistic approach to the environment and lifestyle, and also includes social goals like responsible business, good governance, equality, and inclusion’’.
Also read: Bangabandhu-Bapu digital exhibition begins at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
As a frontrunner in green economic growth and a leader in clean technologies, Denmark is well positioned to serve as a knowledge partner for Bangladesh on its journey towards a greener and more sustainable society.
The exhibition also included four panel discussions that highlighted key challenges on this journey and opportunities for the Bangladeshi public and private sector.
US announces another 14mn Pfizer jabs for Bangladesh
The US administration has declared another 14 million Pfizer vaccine doses for Bangladesh under the COVAX Facility, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday.
"It's good news," he said in a message from Paris mentioning that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken moderated a high-level ministerial virtual meeting on Covid-19 and beyond on Wednesday.
Read: Pfizer asks FDA to OK COVID-19 booster shots for all adults
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister and his 25 other counterparts took part in it.
Bangladesh demanded that vaccines be made public good affordable to all countries, and pharmaceutical companies like that of Bangladesh be encouraged and assisted to produce it locally.
Dr Momen disclosed that Bangladesh has distributed 78 million doses, including the first dose of 46 million and 32 million as the second dose.
Read:Pfizer says COVID-19 pill cut hospital, death risk by 90%
He said Bangladesh needs more doses to vaccinate at least 80% of their 165 million people.
The good news is, Dr Momen said, the Covid-19 infection rate in Bangladesh is now around 1% as only two people died yesterday and the day before yesterday only one died of Covid-19.
S Korean envoy Lee for diversifying collaboration with Bangladesh
Speakers at a virtual dialogue, hosted by Cosmos Foundation, have laid emphasis on having a broader collaboration between Bangladesh and South Korea focusing on a number of new areas from technology transfer to virtual marketplace, fashion, startups and innovation as Korea eyes more success stories with Bangladesh going beyond RMG.
“We need to move beyond RMG and diversify collaboration between the two countries,” said South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun while delivering his keynote address at the dialogue that premiered on Thursday.
Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Cosmos Group, hosted the dialogue titled “Bangladesh South Korea Relations: Prognosis for the Future” as part of its ongoing Ambassadors' Lecture Series.
Korea seeks deeper engagement with Bangladesh with focus on young generation
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun has said his country wants to take the “strong relations” with Bangladesh to a new height engaging deeply in every potential area giving much focus on the young generation in terms of cooperation and collaboration. “The Golden Jubilee of diplomatic relations in 2023 would be a significant momentum for the two countries to take the strong ties to a new height,” he said, mentioning that the two countries now need to diversify the areas of cooperation. He was delivering the keynote address at a webinar hosted by the Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Cosmos Group, at its Ambassadors’ Lecture Series Dialogue premiered on Thursday. The topic for discussion was "Bangladesh-South Korea Relations: Prognosis for the Future." Enayetullah Khan, Chairman of the Cosmos Foundation, earlier made the inaugural remarks.
France to provide €330mn for Bangladesh’s development projects
The development agency of France will provide €330 million for the implementation of development projects in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh and France have signed three agreements in this regard.
Of the € 330 million, Agency France Development (AFD), a development bank and cooperation agency, will provide € 200 million for budget support due to Covid-19 pandemic and the rest €130 million for the Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project, which is already under implementation.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Fatima Yasmin said this while briefing the media here on Wednesday.
Read: Dhaka, Paris committed to stepping up cooperation in defence; LoI signed
With the € 330 million, AFD’s total support to Bangladesh exceeded €1 billion as it earlier provided € 800 million, she said.
In South Asia, the AFD provides the largest amount of assistance to Bangladesh, she added.
The ERD secretary said they will sign a host country agreement with them in the coming days as discussions to this end are at the final stage.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain said Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority has signed an agreement with France Civil Aviation Authority to strengthen the cooperation for knowledge sharing and training for its employees.
Besides, he said, it also helps organise various events like aviation safety which is progressing well in Bangladesh’s civil aviation.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were, among others, present.
Read: Hasina invites French entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in France on November 9 on a state visit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. She is leading a high-level Bangladesh delegation.