UNESCO
Bangladesh committed to media freedoms 'in Commonwealth and beyond': Muna Tasneem
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem, who also represents the country on the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth, has reaffirmed her government's commitment to upholding media freedoms within the Commonwealth and beyond. “The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will continue to work closely with the UK, Namibia and our Commonwealth fraternity to continually uphold and improve media freedom nationally, globally and within the Commonwealth," she said.
The High Commissioner made the remarks at a virtual event organised by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and High Commission of Namibia, on ‘Media Freedom in the Commonwealth’ on Wednesday in London.
The event was co-hosted by the UK and Namibia at the advent of the World Press Freedom Day Conference 2021 scheduled to be hosted in Windhoek, Namibia on April 29 to May 3 in collaboration with the UNESCO.
Reflecting on the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, “Information as a Public Good”, the High Commissioner paid her tributes to journalists all around the world including those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
She called upon the Commonwealth to support sustainability and economic viability of news and media houses across the Commonwealth especially in developing countries during the Covid crisis, enhanced transparency of internet companies, and greater media and information literacy among young people to ensure information is indeed delivered as ‘public good’.
High Commissioner Tasneem also briefed the Commonwealth meeting on wide-ranging initiatives and reforms undertaken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government towards rapid liberalization, privatization and expansion of Bangladesh’s print, electronic and digital media industry over the past decade.
The High Commissioner said apart from promoting an exponential growth in private electronic and digital media in Bangladesh, specially the internet-based news portals and TV channels leveraging media freedom and freedom of expression, the present government also created the country’s first journalists’ welfare trust to support special needs of journalists and their family members, and commissioned two wage boards to enhance their pay and salary packages by more than sixty percent since 2013.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland QC and High Commissioners of a number of Commonwealth countries, spoke on the occasion.
The meeting was co-chaired by Head of Media Freedom at the UK FCDO Mr Kanbar Hussein and High Commissioner of Namibia to the UK Linda Scott.
Bangla New Year- 1428 celebrated in Brussels
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Brussels has virtually celebrated the Bangla New Year 1428 in advance with the participation of more than eight thousand Bengali and foreign guests from Europe and different corners of the world.
Singer Nobonita Chowdhury performed songs from different regions and genres of the country in the event held on Monday, said the Embassy of Bangladesh in Brussels on Tuesday.
She rendered songs including Rabindra, Nazrul and Lalon Sangeet, songs of Hasan Raja, Vijay Sarkar, and Bhawaiya, which showcased the richness of Bengali songs to the world.
There was a narration in English by the singer on the theme and background of each song for foreign guests.
Bangabandhu's 7th March speech to ever-inspire people of Bangladesh: Envoy
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran on Sunday said the historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu delivered ex tempore before a sea of people at the then-Race Course (now Suhrawardy Uddayan) in Dhaka will forever inspire the people of Bangladesh.
Historic 7th March today
The historic 7th March, a memorable day in the history of Bangalis’ long arduous freedom struggle, is being observed across the country on Sunday in a befitting manner.
Historic 7th March to be observed Sunday
The historic 7th March, a memorable day in the history of Bangalis’ long arduous freedom struggle, will be observed across the country on Sunday in a befitting manner.
Book on Bangabandhu's March 7 Speech published in UN's official languages
Bangladesh Embassy in Paris and Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to UNESCO have unveiled a book titled "The Historic 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: A World Documentary Heritage."
BIP launches book for practitioners
Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on Thursday virtually launched a book- “Porikalpona Poribhasa” (Planning terminology) to make Bengali translations of essential terms in planning available in a collection.
Bangladesh lauded at UN for leadership in promoting mother language, multilingualism globally
President of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir has acknowledged Bangladesh’s distinct role in the proclamation of International Mother Language Day by the UN and also lauded Bangladesh for its leadership in promoting the importance of mother language and multilingualism globally.
UNESCO DG lauds commitments made by Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Jordan
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has said UNESCO will celebrate a decade of “indigenous languages” from 2022 through 2032 and appreciated the commitments to this effect made by Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt and Jordan.
Show respect to mother tongue, culture: Envoy
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam on Sunday said the Bengali nation has created an unprecedented event by sacrificing lives for their mother tongue.