US Ambassador to Bangladesh
Ambassador Haas announces $152 mn assistance after Cox’s Bazar visit
Following his first visit to Cox’s Bazar, U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has announced the United States is providing $152 million in new humanitarian assistance for nearly one million Rohingya refugees and Bangladesh host communities.
“This brings the total we’ve provided since August 2017 to $1.7 billion,” said Ambassador Haas.
“Of this new funding, $125 million is for programs inside Bangladesh — for Rohingya refugees and affected Bangladeshi communities.”
Haas visited Cox’s Bazar from March 27-29 to meet with local government officials and see how U.S. programs continue to assist Rohingya refugees and host communities by providing healthcare, training to fight fires in the camps, protecting the environment, strengthening climate disaster resilience, and providing secure food distribution.
Read: PM calls for rebuilding a resilient Bay of Bengal region for common benefits
“I am heartened by the strong collaborative relationship with humanitarian agencies working in the camps and host communities in Cox’s Bazar,” he said.
The ambassador’s trip was the first visit since U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on March 21 he had determined that members of the Myanmar military had committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya.
While in Cox’s Bazar, Ambassador Haas visited Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC) Commissioner Shah Rezwan Hayat and Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Md. Mamunur Rashid.
World investors are eyeing Chattogram: Ambassador Miller
Eyes of the world's investors are on Chattogram as there are immense possibilities and fields for investment in the port city, Earl R. Miller, the U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh said on Wednesday.
“The United States is also interested in investing in Chittagong. The next steps will be taken after investing and feasibility study, especially in education, health, ICT and tourism,”the ambassador said following a meeting with Chattogram City Mayor Rezaul Karim in the commercial capital of the country.
"We believe that Chattogram will soon be integrated as an effective link of regional and global connectivity in the way big projects have been implemented and are being implemented."
“If participation of the world's major economic powers is ensured in all the economic zones that have developed here, its positive impact will be reflected not only in Bangladesh, but globally.”
Read:UK played a part in development of Chattogram: Dickson
He also discussed the Rohingya and Covid-19 situation of Chattogram with the city mayor.
City Mayor Rezaul Karim said that the Karnaphuli tunnel will be a game changer for the tourism and economic situation of Chattogram.
There are already signs of massive industrialisation at Mirsharai, Anwara and other parts of South Chattogram because of the tunnel, he noted.
“Now our biggest responsibility is to create a favorable environment for domestic and foreign investment. This requires the support and participation of global economic powers, “the mayor added.
Miller gets Bangabandhu's photos of 1958 as gift
ABM Sarwer-E-Alom Sarker, assistant press secretary to the prime minister, has gifted US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller some photos of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The photos were taken at Tufts University during the US Department of State's Foreign Leaders Exchange Programme in 1958.
The US ambassador tweeted the photos Thursday on his verified Twitter account.
Dhaka to receive another 25 lakh Pfizer vaccine doses Monday
Twenty-five lakh more doses of Pfizer vaccine under COVAX facility are scheduled to reach Dhaka on Monday. A cargo flight of National Airlines, carrying the vaccine doses gifted by the USA, will land at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 10:15 PM, said officials at the Health Ministry.
Read:Bangladesh to get 71 lakh Pfizer, 18 lakh Moderna jabs: Shahriar US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller and DG of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam will be present at the airport to receive the vaccine jabs. Earlier, Bangladesh received over 1 lakh doses of Pfizer vaccine in the first phase and 10.03 lakh doses in the second phase from the US. With the fresh batch, Bangladesh will receive a total of 36.04 lakh doses of the vaccine.
Read: Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11 So far, the country has received 4.94 crore doses of Astra Zeneca, Sinopharm and Moderna vaccines under COVAX facility. Of these, 2,41,97,598 people got their first dose while 1,60,33,971 the second dose till September 25, according to the Health Ministry. Besides, a process to bring 2 crore doses of Sinopharm vaccine each month is underway. Apart from this, another process to procure 24 crore doses of vaccine through the World Health Organisation is going on. Bangladesh started administering the first doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at three centres in Dhaka to fight off Covid-19 on June 21.
Read: US assures Covid cooperation to continue as 1-mn doses of Pfizer's vaccine received The United States said it is committed to leading the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic and they will begin this summer the allocation of 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine it is providing to Gavi for distribution by COVAX to countries around the world. US President Joe Biden reaffirmed this commitment by announcing that his country will donate 80 million doses of vaccines to support global needs. The US is working with its G7 partners, the EU, COVAX, and others in a multilateral effort focused on saving lives, ending the pandemic, and supporting the global economic recovery.
US assures Covid cooperation to continue as 1-mn doses of Pfizer's vaccine received
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller and Senior Secretary of the Health Service Division Lokman Hossian Miah on Wednesday welcomed the arrival of one million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in Bangladesh.
The vaccine doses are donated by the United States as part of the U.S. Government’s commitment to donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine globally.
Bangladesh is expected to receive another 5 million doses of the same vaccine from the US this month.
They build on earlier donations of the Moderna vaccine, for a total of 6.5 million doses gifted by the U.S. Government and the American people to the people of Bangladesh.
Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Kathryn Stevens were also present at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to receive the shipment of vaccines, facilitated through COVAX.
Read: Covid positivity rate shrinks to 10%, cases and deaths continue declining
Netflix Movie: BGMEA protests derogatory remarks on Bangladesh RMG sector
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has written to US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller drawing attention to a movie recently released on Netflix that contains "derogatory comments" about ‘Made in Bangladesh’.
"We also request your steps to stop streaming the movie “Last Mercenary” on Netflix until the dialogue or the scene is removed from the movie," mentioned Hassan in his letter.
Read:No alternative to mass vaccination of apparel workers: BGMEA
As Netflix is a US company and run from the USA; BGMEA, on behalf of all apparel manufacturers and workers of Bangladesh, requested the Ambassador to convey their vehement protest to Netflix for releasing the movie without censoring the derogatory remarks about ‘Made in Bangladesh’.
The significant progress Bangladesh RMG industry made over last few years in the areas of workplace safety, improved workers’ health, sustainable manufacturing and green revolution also largely owes to the support of the Embassy of the US in Dhaka, he mentioned.
While Bangladesh RMG industry has achieved so much progress; when this contributed to rank Bangladesh the second in ‘Ethical Manufacturing’, only after Taiwan, in a survey recently conducted by Hong Kong based supply chain compliance solutions provider QIMA, said the BGMEA chief.
"At a moment when Bangladesh’s RMG industry after addressing the safety concerns is leading green garment manufacturing in the world by examples; derogatory comments about ‘Made in Bangladesh’ in a newly released French movie “Last Mercenary” directed by David Charon has appalled us and shocked us all by surprise," he said.
The comments in the movie say “Yes, Bulletproof Tuxedo, Made in France. I’d be dead if it were Bangladesh”.
These comments are tantamount to belittling the hard work, dedication, quality and on time manufacturing commitment of the 4 million garment workers of Bangladesh who are delivering ‘Made in Bangladesh’ apparel to about 160 countries of the world, including the US, said the BGMEA chief.
"We think these disrespectful remarks not only undermined the joint efforts made by Bangladesh RMG industry along with their development partners like the US which ensured progress and development that are being recognized internationally and receiving worldwide appreciations; but also dishonored the emotion of thousands of US consumers whose wardrobes are full with ‘Made in Bangladesh’ attires and many of which are their favorites," he said.
Read: BGMEA issues guidelines on prevention of dengue, chikungunya
The apparel manufacturers and workers of Bangladesh put all their dedications and commitments to supply apparel for the top global as well as US brands; and they take lot of pride in what they make, Hassan said.
"This hard work and pride should be respected by all," said the BGMEA chief.
He said the remarks have been also irrelevantly and irrationally juxtaposed in the movie as Bangladesh does not produce any ‘bullet-proof apparel’.
"So, since its release on Netflix on July 30, 2021, the movie “Last Mercenary” has been hurting every lover and maker of the Made in Bangladesh," said the BGMEA chief.
The BGMEA President also wrote a separate letter to Netflix CEO Theodore Anthony Sarandos Jr. with the same request.
He drew attention to French movie “Last Mercenary” directed by David Charon and released on Netflix on 30th July 2021; which BGMEA thinks contains "disrespectful and derogatory" comments about ‘Made in Bangladesh’ garments.
"We think these disrespectful remarks not only undermined the joint efforts made by Bangladesh RMG industry along with its international development partners which ensured progress and development that are being recognized internationally and receiving worldwide appreciations; but also dishonored the emotion of millions of consumers worldwide whose wardrobes are full with ‘Made in Bangladesh’ attires and many of which are their favorites," he said.
Read:BGMEA urges buyers to allow more shipping liners, off-docks
The BGMEA President demanded that the dialogue from the scene of the movie that degrade garments ‘Made in Bangladesh’ to be expunged.
"We are also requesting you being a responsible and reputable company to stop streaming “Last Mercenary” on Netflix until the dialogue or the scene is removed from the movie," the letter reads.
Bangladesh to receive 45 lakh vaccine doses from COVAX, China within 2 days: Minister
Bangladesh will receive 45 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine from COVAX facility and China within the next couple of days.
Twenty-five lakh doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine under COVAX facility will arrive in Dhaka on Friday and Saturday in two separate consignments.
On the other hand, Bangladesh will receive two consignments of commercially purchased Sinopharm vaccine doses -- 11 lakh and 9 lakh -- in the next two days.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque shared the updates in a video message on Thursday.
Read: 80pc people to be vaccinated by March: Zahid Maleque
“Around 12 lakh vaccine doses will reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:20 pm on Friday and the rest on Saturday,” said the minister.
The minister will be present at the airport on Friday.
Earlier, Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Hualong Yan said the first consignment of 2 million doses of vaccine as part of Bangladesh government's commercial purchase from China's Sinopharm are ready for delivery in Beijing.
Ambassador Miller praises power of young minds in Bangladesh
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller has congratulated Sylhet’s 20 newest graduates of the US State Department-funded English Access Microscholarship Programme.He praised the 10 young women and 10 young men from local madrasas and public schools for their hard work in completing the course during the pandemic and encouraged them to continue their studies to prepare for the future.
Also read:US committed to work with Bangladesh to end trafficking-in ...“Bangladesh just marked its Golden Jubilee – the day when it declared its intention and ability to chart its own path. There’s no better time to recognise the power of young minds – like yours – to design the next 50 years. You can take your new skills and use them as leaders who will shape the future of Bangladesh,” he said during a virtual ceremony on Monday.
Vaccines to be made available for others depending on surplus: Kerry
The United States has assured of making Covid-19 vaccines available for other countries including Bangladesh once they have surplus.
“I can assure you when we can reach the level of the critical mass vaccination and we’ve surplus, we’ll absolutely make vaccines available in whatever different ways,” said John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
While responding to a question at a joint briefing on Friday, Kerry said US President Joe Biden believes deeply that they have a responsibility - moral and practical - to bring the whole world back from this break.
Also read: Make no mistake; take action: Kerry on dealing with climate crisis together
He, however, said he cannot give the numbers and schedule but he can guarantee that there is a concerted effort to reach out globally to help all with this pandemic. “We all benefit by getting this pandemic conquered.”
Make no mistake; take action: Kerry on dealing with climate crisis together
John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, on Friday laid emphasis on taking action without taking any mistake to deal with the global climate crisis noting that the US administration is looking for greater collaboration with Bangladesh on the issue.
“So, we know from the scientists - we must all take action,” he said seeking joint efforts to protect the countries, citizens and the future generations as no single country can solve the climate crisis today.
Kerry made the remarks at a joint media briefing at State guesthouse Padma after his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the same venue.
“We’ve the ability to work together now in order to bring technology, research, development and finance to the table to do what we know we must do,” he said.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin, Saber Hossain Chowdhy, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Special Envoy for the Vulnerable Forum Presidency Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller were present.
The visit underscored the US commitment to strengthen implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change designed to limit global warming.
Also read: US focuses on Myanmar issues; lauds Bangladesh's extraordinary generosity
As part of the Paris outcome, developed countries were urged to scale up their level of support with a concrete roadmap to achieve the goal of mobilising US$100 billion per year for climate action in developing countries.