foreign-affairs
FM lauds Health Ministry’s vaccination efforts
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday appreciated the Health Ministry for its competency and efficiency in managing the vaccination programme nationwide.
He hoped that half of targeted people would be vaccinated within months if the current trend continues.
Read: Bangladesh receives around 8 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine
Bangladesh wants to vaccinate 80 percent people of the country in phases.
Dr Momen said the vaccine supply remains steady and there will be no problem to get adequate vaccine doses.
He was talking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after receiving the second consignment of AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan together with Health Minister Zahid Maleque.
Senior Secretary of Health Service Division Lokman Hossain Miah and Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Ito Naoki were also present.
The second consignment contains 7,81,320 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
Dr Momen expressed displeasure as some people are saying it will take five to six years to get all people vaccinated. "Vaccination for 1 crore people has been arranged within a week."
Appreciating the Health Ministry for its role, the Foreign Minister said they are doing an excellent job. "We're working together in a coordinated way and we're handling the COVID-19 situation very successfully so far," he said.
Dr Momen thanked the Health Ministry for addressing the issues of expatriates Bangladeshis and students who are willing to return to their studies abroad.
"Challenges are coming and we're facing those challenges, I think, pretty effectively and efficiently," said the Foreign Minister.
He urged all to follow health guidelines properly saying it is a war against Covid-19 and everyone has a responsibility.
"We're thankful to Japan. They've proved that they're real friend of all Bangladeshis," said Momen after receiving the vaccine consignment.
He said Japan, may be in the future, would be providing more and more support to deal with the situation.
Dr Momen said Covid-19 is a big global problem and no country can resolve it alone.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said vaccine should be a public good and ownership of its technology should be shared by all the countries.
The third consignment of the vaccine that will contain 6,16,780 doses of AstraZeneca is scheduled to arrive here on August 3.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen received the first consignment of 2,45,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan on July 24.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito said this is the manifestation of friendship and partnership.
During his recent telephone conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, Dr Momen raised the vaccine issue and requested him to help Bangladesh with AstraZeneca vaccine supply.
He specifically mentioned the urgency of the AstraZeneca vaccine doses as a good number of people in Bangladesh did not get the second dose of AstraZeneca due to a supply gap.
Japan says it will stand by Bangladesh in the fight against Covid-19.
The Japanese Foreign Minister announced that 15 countries in the region will be provided with 11 million doses in total under the COVAX facility.
EU delegation launches Climate Adaptation Campaign
Following the publication of the EU Adaptation Strategy, the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh started the Climate Adaptation Campaign on Sunday on its social media.
The campaign will continue until the end of the current month.
As part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission published a new and ambitious adaptation strategy on 24th February.
READ: Bangladesh top source country for migrants reaching EU via risky Meditarranean route
The strategy will make the European Union not only a climate-neutral, but also a climate-resilient society by 2050, said a press release.
The strategy pursues four interlinked objectives: to make adaptation smarter, more systemic and faster, and to step up international action.
“We need to act immediately. Now is the time to transform our societies and economies both in Europe as well as in Bangladesh. We need to move from ‘business as usual’ approaches to integrated, longer-term strategies for adaptation and disaster risk management. We must ensure that the COVID-19 recovery agenda increases local adaptive capacity,” said the release.
As pointed out by the Global Commission on Adaptation, investing USD 1.8 trillion globally in just five key adaptation areas from 2020 to 2030 could generate up to USD 7.1 trillion in total net benefits. Adaptation is a no-regret investment for any country. The five areas considered are early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved dryland agriculture, mangrove protection, and investments in making water resources more resilient, it added.
READ: Europe’s summer tourism outlook dimmed by variants, rules
The EU has been already working and innovating on these areas in Bangladesh since 2016 funding a project called “Local Government Initiative on Climate Change” (LoGIC), contributing with 15 million EUR.
This is a joint initiative led by the Local Government Division of the Ministry of Local Government Rural Development together with EU, Sweden and implemented by UNDP and UNCDF.
LoGIC has been designed to support approximately 200,000 of the most vulnerable households in 72 unions in seven districts in Bangladesh, and following its successful approach has been scaled-up in 2021, and aims doubling the number of beneficiaries in the next year and half.
The benefits are expected to come out of climate change adaptation actions at various levels, scaled up through local government institutions incorporating high-quality accountability and participation of the most vulnerable people, it said.
READ: Challenges remain despite Europe meeting 70 pct vaccine delivery goal
“Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries globally. The EU is aware that areas such as the south-west and the floodplains are particularly vulnerable, both from an economic and climate-change perspective. It is fundamental to raise people attention to climate adaptation because the effects of climate change are already here, so we need to do much more to adapt to the consequences and mitigate to the maximum possible extent. The new EU Adaptation Strategy launched in June 2021 will help us get there and provide a framework for further action in the years to come,”said Maurizio CIAN, Head of Unit – Head of Cooperation.
“We must sharply cut greenhouse gas emissions to prevent unmanageable impacts and at the same time, we must adapt to climate change to increase society's resilience and manage unavoidable impacts. We are convinced that mitigation and adaptation are complementary and reinforce each other. The EU with its member states and through concrete actions such as the Team Europe Initiative on Green Energy Transition and LoGIC is already working on this direction and will continue to devote a high share of our international cooperation funding to climate action.”
Bangladesh receives around 8 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday received the second consignment of AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan under the COVAX facility.
The second consignment contains 7,81,320 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
A cargo flight of Cathay Pacific that carried the vaccine doses from Japan landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3:15 pm.
Senior Secretary to the Health Service Division Lokman Hossain Miah and Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Ito Naoki were also present there.
"We're thankful to Japan. They've proved that they're real friend of all Bangladeshis," said Dr Momen after receiving the vaccine consignment.
He said Japan, may be in the future, would be providing more and more support to deal with the situation.
Dr Momen said Covid-19 is a big global problem and no country can resolve it alone.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said vaccine should be a public good and ownership of its technology should be shared by all the countries.
Also read: Bangladesh receives 30 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
The third consignment that will contain 6,16,780 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine is scheduled to arrive here on August 3.
The vaccine support is expected to contribute to the Bangladesh government's efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to save people’s lives in Bangladesh, said the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka.
Japan hoped that the vaccination of AstraZeneca will resume soon and reiterates that it will stand by Bangladesh in the fight against COVID-19 and will work together to suppress COVID-19 as soon as possible.
IGCC's Malhar Evening attracts global audience
Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre of the High Commission of India Dhaka recently organized an online event on Classical Music "Malhar Shondhya" based on Classical Raagas under Malhar Group. Renowned artists from Bangladesh and India performed at the online event.
Malhar is generally performed to welcome rains. Legendary Rabindra Sangeet Singer and ICCR alumnus Rezwana Choudhury Bannya from Bangladesh performed melodious Rabindra Malhar based on mix of Malhar Raagas with basics of Raaga Miyan ki Malhar. Renowned Classical Vocalist from Bangladesh Pt. Swarnamay Chakraborty rendered melodious Raaga Megh Malhar.
ReaTribute to Bangabandhu: IGCC arranges virtual poem recitation eventsd:
Bangladesh to receive 2nd consignment of Astrazeneca doses from Japan Saturday
Bangladesh will receive the second consignment of AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan under the COVAX facility on Saturday.
The consignment, being carried by All Nippon Airways (ANA), contains 7,81,320 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, raising the total jabs of the vaccine in Bangladesh to one million.
The flight left Narita Airport Terminal 1 at 22:40 hrs (JST). The delivery is part of Japan's announced commitment of supplying over 3.0 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in phases to Bangladesh under WHO-COVAX mechanism.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received the first consignment of 2,45,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan on July 24.
Read: Bangladesh receives 30 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
IOM seeks focus on perilous journeys by Bangladeshis to migrate
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is a timely reminder of the problems and risks faced by over 700,000 Bangladeshis who choose to migrate abroad every year.
"Vulnerable migrants are often the target of traffickers and find themselves in situations that can result in debt bondage, forced labour, sexual exploitation, forced marriages and other forms of modern slavery," said IOM Chief of Mission in Bangladesh Giorgi Gigauri in a message marking the Day.
Read:Deaths on maritime migration routes to Europe soar in first half of 2021: IOM
Gigauri said they are working very closely with the government of Bangladesh, and are redoubling their efforts and looking at not only the whole of government but also the whole of society.
"As the Bangladesh UN Network on Migration (BDUNNM), we are also bringing together civil society and UN agencies to do our utmost to assist these migrants in need," he said.
The Covid-19 situation has further aggravated problems, and migrants have become even more vulnerable as some have lost their jobs.
Read:IOM’s emergency director urges durable solutions to Rohingya Crisis
Some are more desperate, looking for new jobs and new opportunities to feed their families.
"Trafficking affects everyone. It affects people on an individual level, on a family level, and the level of society. And it’s our job to do something about it," said the IOM Mission chief in Bangladesh.
This year’s theme of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is “Listening to the Victims”.
Read:IOM ramps up health response as 2nd wave of COVID-19 hits Cox’s Baza
"We must listen to the people who have been affected so that we can assist them better. We must listen to the survivors of trafficking to hear about their experiences, their stories, and not only learn from them but use that knowledge to improve our interventions and our response to stop trafficking," he said.
"So please join me, and let’s come together to battle this heinous crime so that we can eradicate human trafficking in Bangladesh and beyond," he added.
Bangladesh receives 30 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
Bangladesh received 30 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine on Thursday night and early Friday as part of commercial purchase from China.
One of the three aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:20pm on Thursday.
Read: Bangladesh receives 10 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
Two more aircraft landed at 1:14am and 5.37am on Friday, each carrying 10 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine, Tahera Khondoker, Deputy General Manager (PR) at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, told UNB.
Earlier, Bangladesh received 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine on July 17 and July 18.
Experts seek gender-responsive environment for volunteer engagement
Speakers at a webinar have said it is critical to promote equal learning opportunities and gender-responsive environment for skill development and volunteer engagement to foster incredible youth contributions.
The webinar titled ‘Volunteerism and Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic' was jointly arranged by UN Volunteers in Bangladesh and UN Women Bangladesh on Thursday.
Read:'Volunteerism, Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic' webinar Thursday
Women and Children Affairs Secretary Md Sayedul Islam spoke as the chief guest at the event.
"We’ll look into ways to work on incorporating more young people, volunteers, especially female volunteers, to include them in different initiatives and design programmes around their overall development, promotion and recognition," he said.
Subhra Bhattacharjee, Strategic Planner and Head, United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office (UNRCO) in Bangladesh, said the positive effects of volunteerism can be very empowering for youth and young women in particular, providing access to social networks, new skills, and an influential role in the community for individuals who may otherwise have few formal routes to education or influence.
"If we can properly utilize the huge young population and turn them into a skilled generation and inspire them to volunteer then we shall have the asset to leading towards a smoother path to achieving SDGs," said Md Azharul Islam Khan, Director General of Department of Youth Development.
Md Aktar Uddin, Country Coordinator, UNV Bangladesh, pointed out that volunteering engagement can be an alternative tool for promoting skill development and civic responsibility among the youth.
Initiative launched to end child marriage in Bangladesh
A new campaign has been launched to encourage people to condemn child marriage in Bangladesh that has thrived in the shadow of the pandemic.
The initiative -- 'Actions to Prevent Child Marriage in Bangladesh' -- is also designed to support every girl’s dream to achieve their aspirations and will help advance the objectives of Bangladesh’s 10-year National Plan of Action to End Child Marriage (2018-2030).
Read: Patuakhali child marriage: case filed against UP chairman and five others
The campaign, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will seek to collect one million pledges from adolescents, parents, community leaders, policy makers, business leaders and civil society representatives to prevent child marriage.
This will remind people that everyone has a responsibility to protect girls from early marriage, create a safe and healthy environment for girls and boys in their communities to help them reach their full potential in life, which in turn, would benefit the society, said the US Embassy in Dhaka.
“Child marriage is a human rights violation. We all must take charge to end a complex issue like child marriage that requires efforts along many fronts," said Xerses Sidhwa, Director of the Office of Population, Health, Nutrition, and Education of USAID.
USAID will continue to work to protect young Bangladeshis from this harmful practice, and work alongside the government of Bangladesh and other partners to eliminate child marriage, which undermines efforts to promote sustainable development, said Sidhwa.
Speaking at the launching event, Women and Children Affairs Secretary Md Sayedul Islam said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is committed to eliminate child marriage from Bangladesh by 2041.
"The government, development partners, non-government organisations, the private sector and relevant stakeholders must all work together to make it a reality.”
Read: Child marriage rate still over 80% in Bhola
He thanked USAID for initiating this timely campaign to help reduce child marriage that has thrived in the shadow of the pandemic.
Amir Hossain, Director of Information, Education, Motivation unit of the Directorate General of Family Planning, officials from the US Embassy in Bangladesh, and representatives of other national and international organisations also attended the event.
Bangladesh has made notable progress in curbing child marriage, with several studies showing a decline in the same.
Proportion of girls who married before the age of 16 declined from 46 percent to 32 percent between 2007-2017, while those who married before age 18 (the legal age) fell from 66 percent to 59 percent, according to the studies.
However, Bangladesh is witnessing a sharp rise in child marriages during the Covid-19 pandemic, driven by multiple factors including reduced income, especially in lower-income families, and school closures, said the US Embassy.
Read:13,886 child marriages in 7 months during Covid-19 outbreak: MJF
USAID’s Ujjiban Social Behaviour Change Communication project, implemented by Johns Hopkins University, is leading the public awareness campaign highlighting the health risks of early pregnancy and the high returns of investing in girls’ education.
The campaign will also help generate awareness about the current law in Bangladesh that prohibits child marriage, instruct people how to use existing mechanisms to report incidents in their community, and help victims.
US for upholding labour rights with economic progress in Bangladesh
Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Bob Menendez has underscored the importance of upholding labour rights and workers’ safety alongside economic progress in Bangladesh.
Senator Menendez noted with appreciation Bangladesh’s economic growth and social progress under the leadership of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Adviser for Private Industry and Investment to the Prime Minister Salman Fazlur Rahman held a meeting with Senator Bob Menendez at the latter’s Senate Hart Office Building, Washington DC on Thursday.
Also read: Child labour begins to creep back up after two decades: UN agencies
Adviser Rahman apprised the Senator about various new initiatives taken at the behest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to further improve labour rights and workers’ safety.
Referring to the recent fire incident in a factory in Rupgonj, the Adviser apprised the Senator of the formation of a high-powered committee headed by him to inspect building safety and remedial measures.
The discussion covered various aspects of Bangladesh-US relations.
The Advisor briefed the Senator on the impressive socio-economic development that has taken place in Bangladesh during the last 12 years under the "dynamic and visionary leadership" of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He sought the Senator’s support to further strengthen Bangladesh-US relations.
Aslo read: Post-Pandemic World: Can labour rights roar back?
The meeting was also attended by Finance Division Senior Secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Shahidul Islam.