foreign-affairs
UK announces £120mn for Bangladesh to scale up climate action
COP26 President Alok Sharma has announced £120 million to support climate action in Bangladesh.
The £120million new programme for Bangladesh, from 2021 to 2027, will scale up locally-led adaptation, expand renewable energy, tackle pollution and waste, and develop and empower the next generation of climate leaders.
Read: Bangladesh going for green energy to mitigate climate change impact: Minister
The funding for the Bangladesh Climate and Environment Programme will help build resilience, prevent pollution, protect biodiversity, strengthen renewable energy and better manage waste, while also supporting women’s access to finance, education and skills in Bangladesh.
He also announced how £165 million of UK funding will tackle climate change, including by addressing the gender inequalities that make women and girls more vulnerable to climate change, and by empowering women and girls to be leaders in climate action.
Speaking from COP26 in Glasgow, Alok Sharma said gender and climate are profoundly intertwined.
“We see that in terms of the impact of climate change, which affects women and girls disproportionately. And we see it in terms of tackling climate change, where we know our efforts are more effective when women and girls are at their hearts.”
Read: 'Funds hardly reach climate-vulnerable people'
He said they are committed to women’s participation at every level of climate action and to placing gender at the heart of all our efforts. This is why gender cuts across the full COP fortnight. “And it’s why we’re hosting Gender Day today.”
Through its COP26 Presidency, the UK has been urging countries to put gender equalities at the heart of climate action, and on Gender Day convened ministers and other actors to discuss new action to tackle gender and climate change.
Addressing root causes of conflicts critical: Dhaka
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Ambassador Rabab Fatima has said social and political exclusion of Rohingya minorities in Myanmar has blown into a crisis with serious humanitarian and security ramifications for the region.
“Addressing the root causes of conflicts is critical for breaking the cycle of recurring violence,” she said while addressing the Security Council High-Level Open Debate titled “Maintaining international peace and security: exclusion, inequality and conflict” on Tuesday.
Read: Bangladesh deeply committed to human rights, fundamental freedoms: Rabab Fatima
The open debate was convened by the delegation of Mexico, the current President of the Security Council, to deliberate on the possible role of Security Council in addressing inequalities, exclusion and conflict. The President of Mexico chaired the open debate.
At the meeting, the Bangladesh Ambassador underscored that the underlying factors of conflicts may vary across economic, political, and cultural spectrums.
As such, she said, there must be a whole of UN approach for encouraging a nationally-driven and multi-stakeholder solution towards durable peace.
The Ambassador stated that the Security Council has a critical role to play in mitigating inequalities and exclusion when they lead to international or regional conflicts.
In the context of maintaining international peace, Ambassador Fatima said the UN peace operations and special political missions can bring a great strength to preventive diplomacy because they have the firsthand information from the field, which can strengthen early warning systems against any impending crisis.
Read: Rabab Fatima calls for international solidarity against terrorism
Ambassador Fatima recommended that the Council should invest more in implementing the WPS and YPS agendas in order to ensure inclusion.
She emphasized upholding the rule of law at the global level and in this regard recognized the role of the International Court of Justice, and other international legal bodies and tribunals.
“It’s imperative that the Council demonstrates its firm commitment in upholding the sanctity of ICJ and other legal bodies,” she said.
Dhaka, Paris committed to stepping up cooperation in defence; LoI signed
Bangladesh and France have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on defence cooperation as the two countries stated their will to further develop the defence and security component of their partnership.
"Yes, we did it [signed it]. However, it relates to training and technology transfer," Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told UNB.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and French President Emmanuel Macron had a bilateral meeting on Tuesday and discussed the issues of mutual interest and cooperation.
Read: Bangladesh joins pledge to end deforestation by 2030
To that end, the two countries agreed to strengthen dialogue and continue their cooperation, particularly in the area of training, which was launched during this visit.
They committed to stepping up cooperation in the area of defence equipment based on the needs expressed and each party’s ability to respond to them, including through capacity building and potential technology transfer in this regard, according to a joint statement.
Dhaka shares with Paris security risks from Rohingya crisis
Bangladesh has highlighted the potential security risks from the Rohingya crisis for the region and urged the international community to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and French President Emmanuel Macron had a bilateral meeting on Tuesday and discussed issues of mutual interest, including the Rohingya crisis.
Read: Gun factory in Rohingya camp: 3 held with 10 guns
The two countries underscored the need to ensure funding for the UN’s Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya in Bangladesh and enable their voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar as soon as possible.
France welcomed Bangladesh’s generosity in providing shelter to the Rohingyas, who were forced to flee violence by Myanmar security forces in their home country.
France and Bangladesh noted the significant pressure caused by the Rohingya crisis on Bangladesh, particularly for communities living adjacent to the camps.
At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is making an official visit to France from November 9.
Both countries welcomed the French Development Agency (AFD)’s long-term partnership with Bangladesh.
Read: Speakers call for mounting int'l pressure on Myanmar to resolve Rohingya crisis
Through the activities of the AFD and in response to Bangladesh’s national development strategies, France is committed to continuing support for Bangladesh’s health system as well as the blue economy, energy and water sectors.
Both sides welcomed the signing of the Credit Facility Agreements on health systems strengthening and setting up a water treatment plant.
Following the COP26 in Glasgow, France and Bangladesh reaffirmed their shared determination to strengthen cooperation for the environment, the fight against climate change and the promotion of sustainable growth, as part of the overall 2030 Agenda.
France commended Bangladesh’s leadership of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and both sides agreed to work towards securing climate financing committed under the Paris Climate Agreement.
France and Bangladesh agreed to facilitate scientific and academic research through collaboration and exchange at the institutional level. France further agreed to offer specialized courses for diplomatic and military professionals of Bangladesh in relevant French institutions.
Read: President urges world leaders to take effective steps to solve Rohingya problem
The two countries also stated their desire to promote the use of the French language in Bangladesh and the Bangla language in France, and would like to support the role of the Alliances Françaises in Dhaka and Chittagong.
Both parties are convinced that this visit will turn a new chapter in further strengthening the bilateral partnership between France and Bangladesh.
Hasan Mahmud calls for foreign funding to boost use of solar energy in agriculture
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has urged Bangladesh’s development partners, including the World Bank, to finance the country’s drive to increase the use of solar power in agriculture.
Hasan said this at a dialogue on the prospect of solar-powered irrigation to enhance climate resilient agriculture in Bangladesh held at Bangladesh Pavilion in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday.
READ: Communal violence: Facebook cannot deny responsibility, says Hasan Mahmud
The use of solar energy has increased in the country because it is climate tolerant, cost-effective, eco-friendly, he said.
“Every year, 1.24 lakh mts diesel is used to run irrigation pumps in the country. This can be saved if solar panels are installed to operate the pumps. Solar energy also helps reduce carbon emissions,” he said.
Besides, a solar panel can operate for up to 20 years uninterruptedly, he said.
The use of solar panels instead of diesel-run irrigation pumps was as important as the process of reducing the damage caused by future climate change.
Therefore, Bangladesh has taken initiative to increase the use of solar panels instead of diesel in irrigation pumps.
Idcol has been working to install solar panels in irrigation and the government has undertaken 789 projects at a cost of 443 million US dollar from the Climate Change Trust Fund with its own funding.
READ: BNP’s 20-party alliance has only 8-10 parties: Hasan Mahmud
He said Bangladesh has been working to mitigate the risks posed by climate change by formulating its own climate change strategic and action plan.
Idcol has installed 1,515 solar irrigation pumps with aid of different organisation, easy loan and technological support, which is so admirable.
He said the achievements of IDCOL in developing renewable energy and energy efficiency have given Bangladesh a global recognition.
D-8: Dhaka calls for addressing inequalities through proactive efforts
Bangladesh has said the D-8 has the responsibility to not only deal with intra-regional inequalities but also global ones through pro-active deliberations and associations.
Secretary (West and ICT) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury made the observation while inaugurating the 44th Session of the D-8 Commission.
Bangladesh, as the current Chair of Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), hosted the two-day 44th Session of the D-8 Commission meeting that ended on Tuesday in Dhaka.
Also read: Intra-D-8 trade: Transport connectivity gets focus in Summit
Chaired by the D-8 Commissioner of Bangladesh and Director General (International Organizations) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Wahida Ahmed, the meeting was attended by the D-8 Secretary-General Ku Jaafar Bin Ku Shaari and Commissioners/delegates of the D-8 Member States.
The meeting focused on issues related to the six priority areas of cooperation of D-8- trade, agriculture, food security, industrial cooperation, energy and minerals, transportation and tourism.
In his welcome remarks, the D-8 Secretary-General urged the D-8 Commissioners to focus and work on the implementation of the currently available mechanisms of the Organization such as the PTA and Visa and Customs agreements.
The Chairperson, and D-8 Commissioner of Bangladesh briefed the meeting about the lucrative incentives offered by the Government of Bangladesh to set up Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and invited the meeting to invest in Bangladesh.
The Commission welcomed her proposal to host the inaugural meeting of the relevant authorities of the Member States on the D-8 Special Economic Zones in 2022 in Bangladesh.
The D-8 Commissioners reviewed the concept note drafted by Bangladesh on forming a Working Group to tackle the economic adversities of COVID-19 pandemic among the D-8 Member States, and committed to come up with pragmatic proposals to boost the vulnerable sectors under this adhoc Working Group.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the current Chair of the D-8.
Also read: D-8 Summit: Hasina for building a better future together
She assumed the Chairmanship of the D-8 from the President of Turkey on April 8, 2021 at the 10th D-8 Summit.
The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as Developing-8, is an organisation for development co-operation among the following countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.
South Korea to resume entry of Bangladeshi expatriate workers: Envoy
The government of the Republic of Korea has recently decided to resume the entry of Bangladeshi expatriate workers to the country which has been suspended since June last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun informed the decision to Expatriate’s Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed during his meeting with the Minister at his office on Tuesday.
Ambassador Lee also requested the Bangladesh Government to take necessary steps to ensure that no COVID-19 positive case is found among the Bangladesh expatriate workers coming to Korea by taking necessary preventive measures before, during and after their travel and their full vaccination.
Also read: Bangladesh an attractive investment destination: Korean envoy
Minister Imran, expressing deep appreciation to the decision of the Korean Government, assured of full cooperation with the Korean authorities for a smooth and successful resumption of Bangladesh expatriate workers’ entry and re-entry to Korea.
US envoy calls for joint action to tackle climate crisis right now
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller has said that the world must put in joint efforts to confront the climate crisis right now instead of leaving the challenge for future generations.
“The climate crisis is here. This is not a challenge for future generations. Together, we must confront it today," he said mentioning that COP26 in Glasgow is a pivotal moment at the start of this decisive decade to tackle the climate crisis.
While COP26 continues in Glasgow, Scotland, Miller visited U.S. government climate resilience projects in Cox’s Bazar and travelled to St. Martin’s Island to assess the effects of climate change and learn about local adaptation efforts.
Also read: COP26: Bangladesh announces 37bn-dollar budget to tackle climate change damages
Miller learned about severe coastal erosion and sea level rise on the island, the impact on local fisheries, the degradation of coral colonies, and local efforts to restore mangroves and protect shorelines.
Dhaka to host IORA Council of Ministers meeting Nov 17
Bangladesh, as the incoming chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), will host the 21st IORA Council of Ministers' (COM) meeting on November 17.
The 23rd Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) and its related meetings will be held during November 15-16 in a hybrid format (mixing in-person and virtual), officials said.
Bangladesh will assume the position of the IORA Chair in November.
Its tenure as chair will run from 2021-2023, with Sri Lanka the new Vice-Chair, and the UAE taking the position of the Past-Chair.
The forthcoming ministers' meeting will be preceded by the 23rd CSO meeting taking stock of the Association's progress and endorsing the next IORA's Action Plan (2022-2027).
Meanwhile, a strategic dialogue on the Impact of Covid-19 and perspectives of economic recovery in the Indian Ocean Region will be held on November 17.
IORA is an inter-governmental organisation that was established in 1997.
The vision for IORA originated during a visit by late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995.
Bangladesh joins pledge to end deforestation by 2030
Bangladesh has signed the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use in the COP26, pledging to end and reverse deforestation by 2030.
Mostafa Kamal, a member of the Bangladesh delegation and secretary of the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, confirmed this to UNB.
Mostafa said that NDC had uploaded a letter of consent from Bangladesh on the website of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) on August 26 stating its commitment to forest protection, afforestation, and forest expansion by 2030. However, as it was not uploaded timely, it was reported that Bangladesh is not with the global initiative of ending deforestation process- which was inaccurate.
Also read: COP26: Bangladesh announces 37bn-dollar budget to tackle climate change damages
The secretary added that Bangladesh has reached an agreement in this regard. “As other countries have reached a consensus, Bangladesh has also expressed solidarity with this consensus. But because of the system error, the name of Bangladesh was not in the first list on the UNFCC web site.
Later on Sunday, the name of Bangladesh was added and published. In this way, the names of more countries can be added and the list can be published in stages, the secretary said.
He said that Bangladesh is ahead of many other countries in the world in protecting forest lands.
And the consensus target is to protect existing forest lands in their respective countries by 2030 as well as create new forests.
He added that not only the protection of natural forests, but also the proposal to increase green coverage in the cities to address the climate change has been proposed at the conference.
Another member of Bangladesh delegation Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain told UNB that a master plan has been taken to increase forest cover from 16 per cent to 20 per cent and afforestation from 22 per cent to 25 per cent by 2030. At the same time, local people are being worked together to protect the forest and create new forests.
"We are constantly protecting the forest," he said. On the contrary, the number of forests in different areas is increasing.
Amir said that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-15) also speak of sustainable management of forests, prevention of deforestation, restoration of forests and conservation of biodiversity.
For this, Bangladesh has taken various steps to conserve forests and forest resources. Article 18 (A) of the Constitution of the country states the specific constitutional obligation to provide for the protection and security of the state's environment and natural resources, biodiversity, forests, forests and wildlife.
Also read: Leaders vow to protect forests, plug methane leaks at COP26
Moreover, the Social Forestry Rules formulated in 2004 and the latest 'National Forest Policy 2016' emphasize on forest conservation and expansion of forest areas, wildlife management and tackling the effects of climate change on the ecosystem.
Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, another Bangladeshi delegate, said that the importance of forest protection has been highlighted in the constitution of the country. In that light, the government has specific policies.
To this end, Bangladesh also expressed solidarity with the unity of all in protecting the forest.
At the COP26 Conference, 134 countries, including Bangladesh, came together to protect the world's forests and protect the world's forests from adverse effects of climate change.