foreign-affairs
UN appreciates Dhaka’s proposal for showcasing women in peacekeeping
The United Nations has welcomed the proposal of Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen to invest in strategic communications showcasing women in peacekeeping in an effort to increase their participation in peacekeeping.
Dr Momen met UN Under Secretary General (Department of Operational Support) Atul Khare in New York on Monday and discussed the issue.
Read:Bangabandhu Lounge opened at Bangladesh Permanent Mission at UN
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to peacekeeping and thanked the Under Secretary General for their support to Bangladesh, especially for including Bangladesh Biman to transport the peacekeepers to the field.
USG Khare expressed his deep appreciation to Bangladesh for their contribution to peacekeeping.
He appreciated Bangladesh for its leadership in implementing the UN's environmental strategy in the field.
Khare also praised Bangladesh's readiness to deploy peacekeepers with enabling assets.
Read:Violence, neglect increase for older persons during lockdown: UN expert
Violence, neglect increase for older persons during lockdown: UN expert
Lockdown measures resulted in increases in gender-based violence and higher risks of violence, abuse and neglect of older persons confined with family members and caregivers globally, said a UN expert on Monday.
Violence, abuse and neglect of older persons have been brought into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Claudia Mahler, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights of older persons, said distressing reports from care homes in different parts of the world showed neglect, isolation and lack of adequate services, including healthcare, social and legal services.
READ: Brac to work on protecting employees from exploitation, abuse
"Older persons must not be left behind when seeking redress and remedies," she said in a statement.
The UN expert urged States to adopt a binding international human rights instrument, as well as national legislation and measures, to ensure access to justice for older persons with full respect of their autonomy.
"This should include the provision of legal aid, dedicated counselling and support services, diverse and age-appropriate formats to share information about rights and legal complaints mechanisms, reduction or exemption of litigation fees, and improved accessibility.”
Despite widespread alarm over the situation of older persons during the pandemic, she said the challenges and barriers to seek effective redress and remedies have received little attention.
On the contrary, some disturbing practices were reported with care homes being given immunity from civil liability for COVID-19 related deaths and putting in place contractual clauses that waive the right to file a court case and make arbitration the only option for alleged abuse or mistreatment.
READ: Another abused woman returns from KSA with baby boy
Elsewhere, older persons and their families expressed despair and frustration with the lack of transparency and responsiveness to complaints raised with aged care services providers.
These developments undermine older persons’ access to justice and to an effective remedy. Older persons are rights holders whose dignity and rights do not have an expiration date in later life, said the UN expert.
Bangladesh to host V20 Climate Vulnerables Finance Summit in July
The government of Bangladesh has announced it will host the first-ever virtual V20 Climate Vulnerables Finance Summit on July 8.
The Summit will feature Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, heads of state from Climate Vulnerable Forum member countries, and V20, or the twenty most vulnerable countries' finance ministers, to mobilize significantly more robust economic and finance responses to the spiraling dual crisis that increasingly affects the world’s most vulnerable economies.
READ Climate action: BYLC holds World Environment Day Creative Competition
In close cooperation with the United Nations, the IMF, and key development partners, the high-level dialogue will shape globally cooperative responses to ensure fast-tracked resilience-building efforts to overcome the new realities of tandem climate and COVID pressures through bold new actions and partnerships. The Summit will be chaired by A H M Mustafa Kamal, Finance Minister of Bangladesh, and co-hosted with the Global Center on Adaptation, said an announcement made on Monday.
The government of Bangladesh is currently chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and the V20 Group of Finance Ministers.
Read Shammi Quddus: A Talented Bangladeshi Woman in Google, Global Fintech Industry
After the Summit, the V20 will issue a Communique highlighting expectations on the upcoming UNFCCC COP26 and global climate finance. Formed in 2015, the V20 Group of Finance Ministers is a dedicated cooperation initiative of economies systematically vulnerable to climate change. It is currently chaired by the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
The V20 membership stands at 48 economies including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Kiribati, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Yemen.
READ: Climate Change to get priority in Bangladesh alongside Covid support:ADB
Kushtia triple murder case: ASI confesses before court
Soumen Kumar Roy, the suspended assistant sub-inspector of police confessed to shooting his wife, her child and a young man to death in a statement before a court on Monday.
The victims of the gruesome crime were Soumen’s wife Asma Khatun, son Robin and bKash agent Shakil Khan who were killed in broad daylight in Kushtia city.
Soumen, the lone accused in the triple murder case, confessed under Section 164 in the court of Kushtia Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Enamul Haque.
READ: Triple murder in Kushtia: Case filed against ASI
Later the court sent him to jail pending trial.
The policeman confessed that he had committed the crime as he could not accept the "extra-marital affair of his wife Asma with bKash agent Shakil."
He also told the court that he left his workplace without permission and came to Kushtia early Sunday from Khulna by bus and brought a service pistol and bullets with him.
He said he wanted to take Asma to Khulna, but she refused to go with him. At one stage of altercation with Asma, Soumen got furious and opened fire before gunning down seven-year-old Robin and 28-year-old Shakil.
Panicked the boy tried to run away, but Soumen caught him before shooting the boy dead.
The shootings took place at a market in the district town's PTI Road around 11 am.
As the locals came to the rescue, Soumen threatened them with his weapon. Later, people began attacking him with stones and brickbats.
The gun-wielding Soumen then threw down his weapon and locals took him into custody before turning him over to the police, according to Kushtia Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sabbirul Islam.
The victims were rushed to Kushtia General Hospital, where they were declared dead.
On Sunday night, Hasina Khatun, mother of Asma, filed a case over the incident with Kushtia Model Police Station, said Sabbirul Alam, officer-in-charge of the police station.
Meanwhile, the bodies of Asma, Robin and Shakil were handed over to their families midnight Sunday.
READ: Gaibandha: 8-hr strike in protest against bizman's murder
"ASI Soumen Kumar is from Magura and was assigned to Khulna's Fultala Police Station," he added. Asma's brother Hasan said her sister was Soumen's second wife.
Soumen went to Kushtia without any official authorisation and killed three people there, said Khulna Superintendent of Police Mahbub Hasan. "The ASI was not on leave. He has been suspended and legal actions will be taken against him."
Bangladesh reelected ILO Deputy member
Bangladesh has been reelected deputy member of the governing body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) from the Asia-Pacific region for the term 2021-2024.
The election was virtually held on Monday in Geneva during the ongoing 109th International Labour Conference (ILC).
This is the third consecutive victory for Bangladesh in the ILO governing body.
Also read: Bangladesh elected ILO Covid-19 Technical Committee chair
Earlier, Bangladesh had served as a deputy member for the terms 2014-2017 and 2017-2021.
Bangladesh secured the first position among the candidates of the Asia-Pacific region by bagging the highest 210 votes.
Also read: ILO lauds progress in RMG sector
A Bangladesh delegation, led by Begum Monnujan Sufian, State Minister for Labour and Employment, is virtually attending the ongoing ILC, which includes Labour Secretary KM Abdus Salam and Md Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva.
Also read: ILO, UNICEF record first increase in child labour in two decades
Bangladeshi youth shines in global yoga vlogging contest
Mansif Helali, a teenager from Bangladesh, has bagged the third position in the Youth Category of a global vlogging contest run by India's External Affairs Ministry, for his extraordinary skills in different postures of Yoga.
He received a prize including US $1000.
At an event at the High Commission of India in Dhaka on Sunday, High Commissioner Vikram K Doraiswami handed over the cheque to Mansif Helali and congratulated him in the presence of his family and officials of the High Commission.
Helali has been a student of Yoga for last 11 years.
Second consignment of Sinopharm vaccine arrives
The second consignment of Sinopharm vaccine, amounting to some 600,000 doses, arrived here on Sunday afternoon as a gift from the Chinese government.
Two C-130J transport aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force brought the consignment with the vaccine doses and some syringes to Bangladesh.
The aircraft with 26 crew of BAF and one representative from the Armed Forces Dvision (AFD) had left Dhaka airport on Saturday to transport the Coronavirus vaccine from China.
Just nine days after the arrival of the first batch of 500,000 doses of gifted vaccine in Bangladesh, China announced the provision of the second batch of gift to Bangladesh.
According to clinical statistics provided by Sinopharm and the evaluation of the World Health Organization (WHO), the efficacy rate of the vaccine is estimated to reach 79%, including all age groups.
This fully reflects the great importance China attaches to the friendly relations between the two countries, says China.
S Korea pledges $200mn to provide vaccines in lower-income countries
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said his country will provide $200 million in aid through next year for equitable access of COVID-19 vaccines in lower-income countries.
President Moon, during a plenary session on health during a Group of Seven Summit, vowed to offer $100 million in grants this year.
Another $100 million will be given next year to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, a financing framework made to have COVID-19 vaccines available at lower cost than usual in more than 90 developing countries with comparatively low incomes.
Read: Korea supports strengthening digital investigation capability of Bangladesh Police
Moon was invited to attend the summit as a guest alongside his counterparts from Australia, India and South Africa, according to The Korea Herald.
Moon attended the plenary session with other guests to join the leaders of G-7 members, as well as chiefs of the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The presidential office said the commitment will spur South Korea’s role as a global vaccine hub while it seeks partnerships with other G-7 nations.
Participants including Moon also discussed ways to cooperate on creating global public health governance and increase support for equitable medical access to nations to prepare for future public health threats, Moon’s office added.
During his visit, Moon also met with Pascal Soriot, executive director and CEO of the Britain-based AstraZeneca, to reaffirm the importance of continued cooperation in global production and supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
In the 27-minute long meeting, Moon pledged to actively cooperate with the international community to ensure enough COVID-19 vaccines are provided globally, according to the presidential office.
Read: As summit ends, G-7 urged to deliver on vaccines, climate
Cheong Wae Dae said Moon thanked Soriot for his company’s active role in the COVID-19 outbreak, saying its vaccine has been a core part of Korea’s vaccination campaign that kicked off in February. Korea aims to complete vaccination of 14 million people by the end of this month.
“AstraZeneca’s vaccine is unique for us in that it the first (COVID-19) vaccine inoculated in South Korea and is the most used vaccine,” Moon was quoted as saying.
“Koreans could receive the vaccine with relief as it was produced locally with SK’s technology transfer. This has also played an important first step for Korea to become a global vaccine production hub.”
More than 60 percent of those who have received their first jabs here were ones developed by the British pharmaceutical firm.
As of Saturday’s end, close to 8 million people in Korea have gotten their first COVID-19 shots from AstraZeneca, followed by 3.26 million from Pfizer.
Read: UK to donate 100 mn coronavirus vaccine doses
SK Group subsidiary SK Bioscience has been producing AstraZeneca’s vaccine domestically through a contract manufacturing deal.
Moon also asked Soriot to provide continued support so as to ensure a steady supply of its vaccines for the latter half of the year, Moon’s office said.
The AstraZeneca CEO also expressed appreciation for Korea’s role in the COVAX facility, as vaccines produced in the country have been provided to 75 nations within the coalition, the office added.
Tireless advocate of migrant refugees Swing passes away
William Lacy Swing, former Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and longtime US diplomat, has died in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was 86.
A tireless advocate on behalf of migrants and refugees, DG Swing was interviewed by BBC in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, in Oct 2017, as hundreds of thousands of Rohingya were fleeing across the border from Myanmar.
"It is with a heavy heart that I learned of my predecessor's passing today," IOM Director General António Vitorino said on Saturday.
Read: Preparedness strengthened ahead of cyclone, monsoon season in Cox's Bazar: IOM
"His was a life of service to his country and humanity, and a source of inspiration to us all."
Swing was born in Lexington, North Carolina in the United States in 1934. He entered the Foreign Service after graduating from Yale University (1956) and completing postgraduate studies in Germany (1960).
Over four decades, his diplomatic career included six US Ambassadorial postings, in the Republic of the Congo, Liberia, South Africa, Nigeria, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo before retiring from the US Foreign Service in 2001 and embarking on a second career with the United Nations.
Swing often told the story of arriving in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, as a junior foreign service officer in 1963 as Nelson Mandela was being transferred to Robben Prison.
He returned 26 years later as Ambassador to witness Mandela's release and subsequent presidency over post-Apartheid South Africa and cited that transformation as an example of the seismic changes that can occur over the course of a single lifetime.
Prior to joining IOM Swing served as United Nations Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Western Sahara (2001-2003) and the DRC (2003-2008).
Read:160 Bangladeshi migrants return from Libya with IOM support
He was elected Director General of IOM in 2008, steering the Organization for the next decade through its greatest period of expansion since the organization’s foundation in 1951.
Under Swing’s stewardship, IOM grew into an agency with an annual operating budget of an estimated USD1.5 billion and more than 10,000 staff working in over 150 countries worldwide. IOM currently has 174 Member States.
Swing felt strongly that IOM's future lay in formalizing the well-established working relationship between the Organization and the United Nations system.
In September 2016, then-DG Swing and Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon signed the agreement that established IOM – UN Migration – as a related organization of the UN.
As UN Migration, IOM became the point of reference in the global debate on the social, economic and political implications of migration in the 21st century.
Shortly before to his retirement in 2018, Swing heralded the completion of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration as an important milestone to improve international cooperation on migration.
Read: $ 20mn required to respond to urgent needs after Rohingya camps fire: IOM
“This is not the end of the undertaking but the beginning of a new historic effort to shape the global agenda on migration for decades to come,” he said at the time.
IOM staff around the world are deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Swing’s passing and extend their deepest condolences to his family.
He has a son, Brian, and a daughter, Gabrielle, and has lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with his wife Yuen Cheong since his retirement.
UK to donate 100 mn coronavirus vaccine doses
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the UK will donate at least 100 million surplus coronavirus vaccine doses within the next year, including 5 million beginning in the coming weeks.
The donation is in addition to the UK work to support Oxford-AstraZeneca’s contribution to fighting COVID and the UK's financial backing to COVAX.
The UK will donate 5 million doses by the end of September, beginning in the coming weeks, primarily for use in the world’s poorest countries.
Read:Tireless advocate of migrant refugees Swing passes away
The Prime Minister has also committed to donating a further 95 million doses within the next year, including 25 million more by the end of 2021.
Some 80% of the 100m doses will go to COVAX and the remainder will be shared bilaterally with countries in need.
By sharing 5 million doses in the coming weeks the UK will meet an immediate demand for vaccines for the countries worst affected by coronavirus without delaying completion of our initial domestic vaccination programme.
Last week the British Prime Minister asked fellow G7 leaders to help vaccinate the entire world by the end of next year.
By vaccinating more people around the world not only will we help bring an end to the global coronavirus pandemic, we will reduce the risk to people in the UK.
This includes significantly reducing the threat posed by vaccine-resistant variants emerging in areas with large-scale outbreaks.
The UK helped to establish COVAX last year and is its fourth-biggest donor, pledging £548 million to the scheme.
Read:FM's NY Visit: Dhaka to press for early repatriation of Rohingyas