foreign-affairs
Bangladesh seeks US investment for regional power distribution
Bangladesh wants to partner with the US private sector in the research and development of uninterrupted and affordable renewable energy sources.
Speaking at an ‘Energy Roundtable’ organized by the US-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC) in Washington, DC on Thursday, PM’s Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury urged the US companies to explore the prospects of nuclear power modular reactors in Bangladesh.
He mentioned that Bangladesh has been working closely with its neighbours --India, Nepal, and Bhutan -- on regional power distribution, and the US companies may explore opportunities for investment there.
Also read: US for upholding labour rights with economic progress in Bangladesh
Chowdhury termed the private sector the main driving force in the Bangladesh-US relations on energy and power.
US investors: Bangladesh showcases its capital market potential
Bangladesh showcased the potential of its capital market and trade and investment opportunities in the country to the US investors.
Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) organized a ‘Stakeholders’ Meeting’ in the US capital, Washington, DC, recently to showcase opportunities to the US investors.
The meeting was part of BSEC’s ongoing Roadshow titled ‘The Rise of Bengal Tiger: Potentials of Trade and Investment in Bangladesh’ being held in Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Friday.
Also read: Bangladesh seeks US partnership in vaccine production
A high-level delegation, led by PM’s Adviser for Private Industry and Investment to the Salman Fazlur Rahman, participated in discussion and exchanged views with the stakeholders in a lively interactive session.
Finance Division Senior Secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder, Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, ERD Secretary Fatima Yasmin, BIDA Executive Chairman Sirajul Islam, BSEC Chairman Prof Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam were, among others, in the discussion panel.
Adviser Rahman highlighted Bangladesh economy’s strong resilience even during the Covid-19 pandemic while the BSEC Chairman presented the recent developments in Bangladesh’s capital market and economy.
The discussants also showcased the robust economic growth and investment potentials in Bangladesh.
Also read: Bangladesh will continue to attract foreign investments, defying downturn: US
They also welcomed suggestions and recommendations from the participating stakeholders regarding promoting trade and investment in Bangladesh and its facilitation to foreign investors.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by the prominent members of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), foreign investors, representatives of development partners, and the US federal entities. Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC, provided necessary assistance to BSEC and the organizers for successful organization of the meeting.
Bangladesh top source country for migrants reaching EU via risky Meditarranean route
Bangladesh now tops the list of source countries whose nationals have tried to cross into Europe through the dangerous voyage across the Mediterranean Sea.
The number of Bangladeshis reaching Europe through the illegal route was 3,332 till July 26 of this year, which is the highest among the 47,425 refugees and migrants reaching Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Malta, mostly through sea routes in the same period. It means roughly 1 in every 7 of these individuals washing up on Europe's shores if they are lucky is a Bangladeshi.
Many of them have become victims of either trafficking or smuggling into several countries – in Libya, Tunisia, Malta, Bosnia and Herzegovina even amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Untold numbers have perished of course.
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, recorded 937 deaths in just the first six months of this year in the Mediterranean sea, many of them Bangladeshis.
Although European authorities have always sounded out the fact that Bangladeshis have figured heavily among these movements off the coast of Africa - as recently as April, UNB reported Bangladesh was 4th on the list for 2021 arrivals via the Mediterranean -it has not always been clear why this is so.
Looking at the list of top 10 source countries, Bangladesh is clearly the odd one out. Rounding out the top 5 are three African nations (Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Egypt) and war-torn Syria. Geographically, Bangladesh is the farthest from the departure point.
There is no war to speak of, and even in terms of economic performance, Bangladesh's record is more robust than the other countries. That should act as a disincentive to not just migration, but particularly such risky-laden, desperate ventures.
Read: 49 Bangladeshi migrants rescued from Mediterranean
And that all points to what must be a huge number of Bangladeshis falling prey to human trafficking networks, that operate precisely on the Meditarranean route. In recent times, arrests of human traffickers in various districts of the country have revealed perilous journeys, sometimes years, that the victims are made to endure to get them to the Libyan coast, before they're cast off.
At least 60,000 Bangladeshis have entered Europe irregularly since 2009, according to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, also known as Frontex.
Also, Covid-19-induced worsening poverty situation can be linked with people's desperation to take risky journeys, crossing the Mediterranean Sea and land routes to reach Europe.
Most of those who are crossing into Europe in this way are aged 25-40 and using at least 18 routes.
However, the central Mediterranean route has emerged as the key transit point for Bangladeshis seeking irregular migration to Europe, according to Frontex.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 has increased the risk of trafficking not only for potential migrants who are looking for better opportunities in Europe. Recent trends also suggest that traffickers are using social media platforms to lure potential victims of human trafficking.
The grim scenario came up at the webinar "Human trafficking and irregular migration: Situation analysis, challenges and ways forward."
Brac Migration Programme organised the event Thursday ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which falls tomorrow.
"It is a disturbing development that Bangladesh nationals sit atop the list of countries from where most people tried to enter Europe through sea route. War-torn and impoverished countries like Syria, Eritrea, Sudan, and Afghanistan are on the list. So, the desperation of Bangladesh nationals cannot be justified along the same line," said Shariful Hasan, head of Brac Migration Programme.
Around 4,510 irregular Bangladeshi nationals entered Italy, Malta, Spain or Greece in 2020 through sea and by land, according to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix.
At least 17 Bangladeshi migrants drowned in a shipwreck off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, the Tunisian Red Crescent said in July.
On July 8, the Tunisia navy rescued 49 undocumented Bangladeshi migrants from the Mediterranean.
On July 3, at least 43 migrants, including Bangladeshis, went missing while 84 were rescued after a boat heading towards Europe drowned off the coast of Tunisia.
Several migrant boats sank recently while trying to reach Europe as more people are now trying to make the dangerous voyage across the Mediterranean to the continent amid warmer summer weather.
Between May 18 and June 24 this year, Tunisian naval authorities rescued over 700 Bangladeshis, shipwrecked in the Mediterranean on their way to Europe from Libya.
They were part of at least 3,332 Bangladeshis who have so far been either rescued or detained on their way to the continent this year.
Bangladesh receives 10 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
Bangladesh on Thursday night received 10 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine as part of commercial purchase from China while 20 lakh more are scheduled to arrive by early Friday.
An aircraft of Bangladesh Biman Airlines landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport carrying 10 lakh doses of Sinopharma vaccine from China around 10:30pm, Dr Shahriar Sazzad, in-charge of the airport health centre, told UNB.
Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh lowers vaccination age to 25
Thirty lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China are supposed to reach Bangladesh on Thursday night and early Friday, sources at the health ministry said.
The vaccine consignments were scheduled to arrive at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in three flights at 10pm, 1am and 3 am, the sources added.
Read: Covid in Bangladesh: Daily toll remains above 200; 15,271 more infected
Earlier, Bangladesh received 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine jabs on July 17 and July 18.
The vaccine doses were provided as part of a commercial agreement with China.
Farhad awarded 'Prime Minister's Fellowship' to study at Oxford
Barrister Shah Ali Farhad, Prime Minister's Special Assistant, has been awarded "Prime Minister's Fellowship" for studying the Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
"I am grateful to the 'Governance Innovation Unit' of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Bangladesh for awarding me the fellowship," he said on Thursday, adding that it is the fulfillment of his lifelong dream to study at Oxford.
Barrister Farhad said he is thankful to his leader and inspiration Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"It has been an absolute privilege to serve her for the last two and a half years," he said.
Farhad said he is eternally grateful to his guides and mentors Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Radwan Mujib Siddiq for always encouraging him to constantly improve and be the "best version of me".
He was appointed as a special assistant to Prime Minister on January 23, 2019.
Read: How are diplomats, civil society members associating with Nur, asks Farhad
Prior to this appointment, he worked with Center for Research and Information (CRI) in different research and analysis roles.
In 2015, he was made as an assistant secretary central sub committee of Awami League and afterwards he served as a member of international affairs sub committee and publicity affairs sub committee.
He completed LLM in (human rights) from University of Hong Kong (secured full scholarship), LLB from Univeristy of London.
A total of 55 scholars from different sectors have been awarded with this scholarship, under the Governance Innovation Unit of Prime minsters office.
Released on Thursday, this scholarship under GIU follows certain criteria’ for allocation of this scheme.
Bangladeshi students advised to learn online until return to Chinese universities
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Thursday encouraged Bangladeshi students to participate in online learning in Chinese universities as the current COVID-19 situation delayed their return to the campuses.
"I hope that the students will be more patient and actively participate in online learning in Chinese universities," he said, adding that he knows many students are eager to go to China to complete their studies as soon as possible.
For the better, Ambassador Jiming said, when all the students are vaccinated, all international students will return to China and the door of China will always be open to students.
He said he is also "very anxious" over the current situation due to COVID-19.
Read: Bangladeshi students to get priority in returning to China: Hualong
The Ambassador was addressing a function virtually making the conclusion of the 20th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for College Students
The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, Center for Chinese-Foreign Language Cooperation, Confucius Institute at North South University hosted the event co-organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Dhaka.
KOICA grants Master’s Scholarship to Bangladeshi govt, non-govt officials
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with the government of Bangladesh and NGO Affairs Bureau granted total 11 government and non-government officials master’s scholarship for 2021.
The Pre-Orientation on ‘KOICA’s Master’s Scholarship Programme 2021 and knowledge sharing webinar’ was held on Thursday virtually.
Young-Ah Doh, Country Director, KOICA Bangladesh Office along with the scholarship awardees, master’s alumni and KOICA’s partner organizations joined.
The event included introduction of KOICA’s Scholarship Program to the participants in attendance to avail the opportunity of studying in Korea that is fully sponsored by KOICA.
It also comprised of two knowledge sharing sessions presented by master’s alumni of 2019, whereby their first-hand experience gathered in Korea were highlighted.
KOICA’s Fellowship Program essentially aims to enhance human resource capacity of Bangladesh’s institutions and in turn contribute to its socio-economic development to achieve its 2041 vision.
This year, KOICA is offering total 9 programmes in Korea’s renowned universities, namely, Ewha Womans University, Hallym University, KAIST, Kyungpook National University, Korea National University of Education, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul National University and Yonsei University, under which total 11 officials were selected after meeting the required eligibility criteria.
The sectors the candidates will major in include, gender, climate change, social economy, agriculture, finance, e-Government and public management, SDGs, etc.
Speaking on the occasion, KOICA’s Country Director said more than 90 Bangladeshi government officials have been awarded Master’s degrees from Korea till date.
She hoped the number increases in the coming years and the returnees are able to act as a bridge between Korea and Bangladesh to further strengthen its friendly ties.
Floods, landslides hit Rohingya camps hard: UNHCR
More than 12,000 refugees have been affected, while an estimated 2,500 shelters have been damaged or destroyed by heavy downpours, the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has said.
In the last 24 hours alone, over 300mm of rain fell on camps hosting more than 8 lakh Rohingya refugees – nearly half the monthly rainfall average for July in one day.
Three days of heavy monsoon rains and strong winds pelted massive refugee sites in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar Tuesday, causing flash floods and landslides; the situation is further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, the UNHCR said.
More rains are expected in the next few days, with the monsoon season stretching over the next three months, the UN agency added.
Read: Landslide kills 5 at Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp
There is currently a strict national lockdown in response to rising cases across the country.
In support of the government-led response, the UNHCR's network of emergency response teams have been deployed, to provide immediate support and assistance to affected families and to those forced to temporarily relocate.
Teams are also assessing the damage to shelters and initiating immediate shelter repairs and site improvements.
Refugee volunteers trained by the UNHCR, and partners are also working day and night in heavy rain to help families in urgent need. In some cases, this has involved rescuing refugees from shelters destroyed by landslides.
Read: Govt to vaccinate Rohingyas gradually starting with above-55s: Foreign Secretary
So far, more than 5,000 refugees have temporarily relocated to other family member's shelters or communal facilities.
The adverse weather, latest landslides and floods further exacerbate the suffering and massive humanitarian needs of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
To date, the 2021 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh has received only $274 million, roughly 30% of the $943 million required for the response this year.
'Volunteerism, Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic' webinar Thursday
UN Volunteers (UNV) in Bangladesh and UN Women Bangladesh will arrange a webinar titled "Volunteerism and Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic" to mark World Youth Skills Day Thursday.
The government, NGOs, INGOs, VIOs, CSOs, UN, youth organisations, corporate sector, civil society and other key stakeholders will join the session that will begin at 2:30pm.
Read: Myanmar: Expert calls for “COVID ceasefire”; urges new UN resolution
It will highlight the current situation of access to training and skill development for young people – namely for women – and also address the effective aspects of volunteerism for enhancing youth skills and opportunities.
Issues such as promoting learning opportunities, advocating to ensure a better skill-developing environment, engagement in volunteering activities, and sensitising relevant authorities and stakeholders, will be discussed.
Read:Pope to UN forum: Hunger is 'crime' violating basic rights
Md Sayedul Islam, secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Subhra Bhattacharjee, strategic planner and head of United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Bangladesh, Md Azharul Islam Khan, director general (additional secretary) of the Department of Youth Development, Aktar Uddin, country coordinator of UNV Bangladesh, Giulia Pelosi, programme specialist of Ending Violence against Women of UN Women, LigayaLaoengDumaoang, TVET specialist of ILO Bangladesh, Alisha Pradhan, founding CEO of HerNet TV, will be present at the session as speakers.
The event will be broadcast live from the Facebook pages of UNV Bangladesh and UN Women Bangladesh.
Covid-19 has impacted young people especially women in profound ways, amplifying the inequalities that they face every day, said the UN office in Dhaka.
Read: No pathway to reach the Paris Agreement’s 1.5˚C goal without the G20: UN chief
Though distance or online training has become the most common way of imparting skills, it comes with considerable difficulties and many young people do not have access to it.
In this regard, volunteerism can play a vital role too to promote participation and skill development of youth and women, said the UN office.
Bangladesh seeks US partnership in vaccine production
PM’s Adviser for Private Industry and Investment Salman F Rahman has sought the assistance from the US government to encourage their vaccine-producing companies to partner with capable pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh.
Recalling the two countries’ close cooperation in combating Covid-19 since the early days of the pandemic, Adviser Rahman stressed scaling up of the global production of the Covid-19 vaccines and other pandemic management equipment to tackle the virus.
He also stated that Bangladesh is ready to make necessary investments for the capacity enhancement of pharmaceutical companies for such partnerships.
Adviser Rahman and Senior Official for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment of the US Department of State Ambassador Marcia Bernicat discussed ways to have stronger collaboration on Covid-19 front.
Bangladesh and the US have expressed willingness to work more closely to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, including partnership, in vaccine production.
Read: Countries like Bangladesh need support for vaccine production: FM