Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (September 13, 2023) invited investors from the Commonwealth countries to come to Bangladesh in a bigger way. “Geographically, Bangladesh is at the center of a market of 3 billion people. We have 170 million people of our own. By 2030, the affluent population of Bangladesh will stand at 35 million. Therefore, Bangladesh will become the third largest market globally, leaving behind Germany and the United Kingdom,” she said. The prime minister said this while addressing the two-day "Commonwealth trade and investment forum Bangladesh-2023" at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, which is the Commonwealth's accredited business network, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Zi Foundation, a family-run foundation that offers support to vulnerable people, jointly organised the event. End the Ukraine war thru negotiations: PM Hasina tells Russian foreign minister The aim is to promote innovation, trade, investment and economic growth, enhance partnerships and explore ways towards sustainable and inclusive economic development for Bangladesh. The PM said that Bangladesh needs development partners for reaching its goal. “We need more high-quality and sustainable investment to accelerate the economic progress of Bangladesh,” she said. She mentioned that as a prerequisite for Biniyog Bikash, or investment promotion, her government has prioritised organisational reforms, the formation of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), which offering attractive facilities for investors, and ensuring post-investment services. Hasina said that almost all sectors are open for investment in Bangladesh. ‘Why would you call yourselves minority?’: PM to Hindu community But among those, she said, more investment is encouraged in agricultural goods and food processing, leather and leather goods processing, medical equipment, automobiles and shipbuilding, and ICT. “There are promising investment facilities in these sectors, including the easy process of taking back dividends or benefits to your home country,” she said. The premier said that some 70 percent of Bangladesh's foreign direct investment comes from reinvestment, which is a proof of the excellent investment environment that Bangladesh offers to investors. She mentioned that BIDA has started a one-stop fast-track delivery service to facilitate investors with the services of various departments of the government and through this one-stop service, 78 services from 26 departments can be received through one platform. PM Hasina offers land to Japanese businesses to set up industries Mentioning that the pre-requisite for investment is the development of infrastructure, she said that the government has established 100 economic zones, 109 hi-tech and software technology parks, and IT training and incubation centres across the country with attractive incentive packages to promote foreign investors. “We are developing our land, rail, and air connectivity. Almost all highways in the country have been elevated to four or more lanes,” she said. In this connection, she said that the Padma Bridge has connected 21 south-western districts of Bangladesh directly with Dhaka and other parts of the country. “There will be rail connectivity through the Padma Bridge between Dhaka and Khulna soon," she said. Read more: Dhaka, London plan to sign MoUs on economic cooperation, cyber security She said that soon the government will inaugurate the Karnaphuli underwater tunnel, the first such infrastructure not only in Bangladesh but in South Asia. “Work on establishing rail link between Chattogram and tourism town Cox’s Bazar is progressing fast.” Sheikh Hasina said that after winning the election in 2008 and forming the government in 2009, the government has started building the country based on short-, middle-, and long-term programmes. “A democratic environment, political stability, continuity of government, and, above all, structured development programs have helped in the quick socio-economic development of Bangladesh," she stated The prime minister said that the government is working to build a Smart Bangladesh, which will be realised by building the pillars of smart government, smart citizens, a smart economy, and a smart society. “Our goal now is to become a knowledge-based and Developed Smart Country by 2041 and a Prosperous Delta by 2100. We are working relentlessly towards that goal through the Perspective Plan, the Five-Year Plan, and the Delta Plan 2100.” Prime minister's private industry and investment adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Lokman Hossain Miah, Strategic Advisor (Bangladesh) Of CWEIC Zillur Hussain And Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) Chairman Lord Marland also spoke at the programme. PM Hasina also handed over Commonwealth Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Green Investment Award to Eco Brixs from Uganda. A video documentary was screened in the programme. Read more: Russian foreign minister’s recent comment in Dhaka is ‘not the most self-aware’: US State Dept Spokesperson

Foreign ministers at the 22nd Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM), held in London, have called upon Myanmar to comply with the "Provisional Measures’ by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). "The world must not forget that it was Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extraordinary courage, compassion and humanitarian decision to open up border and heart to more than 750,000 Rohingyas in 2017 that saved the world from witnessing a human catastrophe," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam at the meeting. Highlighting the serious ramifications of the prolonged stay of 1.2 million Rohingyas for Bangladesh and the region, Shahriar said the earliest repatriation of all forcibly displaced Rohingyas back to their ancestral homeland in Rakhine in safety and dignity remains Bangladesh's compelling priority. He lauded the Gambia for pursuing the ICJ case on the question of Myanmar's accountability and commended Canada, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK for joining the Gambia's side, said the Bangladesh High Commission in London on Friday. Amid declining foreign attention and assistance, Canada called on the Commonwealth nations to continue their support for the cause of Rohingyas until they can return to their rightful homes in Myanmar. The Gambia appreciated the "outstanding generosity" of Hasina for continued hosting of Rohingyas and urged more Commonwealth countries to join their side in the ICJ case, highlighting the importance of accountability and repatriation issues for a sustainable solution to this protracted crisis. The UK stressed the sustainable return of Rohingyas while the Commonwealth nations expressed solidarity with Bangladesh.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the Commonwealth must do something befitting for Queen Elizabeth II in remembrance of her dedicated service to the forum over the years. She said this during her meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland at her place of residence. According to a press release, the prime minister dubbed the late Queen as a ‘motherly figure’ and recalled her personal memories with the Queen.  The Commonwealth secretary general paid tribute to the Queen for her abiding commitment to the Commonwealth, and expressed her confidence that the legacy would be carried forward by King Charles III as the new Head of the Commonwealth. The PM congratulated the secretary general on her re-election during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda in June this year. Patricia Scotland lauded  Hasina for her contributions to women’s empowerment, child development, mental health issues, combating climate change and countering violent extremism.   She once again appreciated the prime minister’s leadership in successfully managing the COVID-19 pandemic, and observed that those Commonwealth Member States had fared better during the crisis that had women in the lead or had women actively included in the management process. Read: PM Hasina leaves Dhaka to attend 77th UNGA PM Hasina responded positively to the Secretary General’s suggestion on highlighting the female leadership within the Commonwealth family on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. She also committed to partner with the Commonwealth to observe the “Year of Peace” and the “Year of Youth” through commemorative events next year. The secretary general made a particular mention of Bangladesh’s work in nature conservation and disaster management, and invited the prime minister to demonstrate leaderhip in the Commonwealth’s “Living Lands” initiative. She also recalled Bangladesh’s lead engagement with the organisation’s “Blue Charter” initiative. The Bangladesh PM underscored the importance of the Commonwealth’s economic development activities. She expressed satisfaction at the work being done on promoting business-to-business connectivity, with Bangladesh’s active footprint. Among others, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Senior Secretary at Prime Minister’s Office Mohammed Tofazzel Hossain Miah, and Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem were present.

Bangladesh has been unanimously elected a member of the Executive Committee (ExCo) of the Commonwealth Board of Governors for the term 2022-2024. The Commonwealth Executive Committee consists of sixteen members of which eight are the highest contributing member states and the other eight are elected from the four regions. Bangladesh has been elected a member of the Executive Committee (EC) from Asia-Europe region, said the Bangladesh High Commission in London on Friday. The Executive Committee is mandated to oversee all matters related to finance, personnel and administration of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Also read: Dhaka seeks greater trade, investment with visa-free Commonwealth regime The Committee also makes policy recommendations for the Commonwealth. Bangladesh has also been unanimously elected as a member of the Commonwealth Accreditation Committee for the term 2022-23. The Committee functions as a sub-committee of the Executive Committee (ExCo) of the Commonwealth Secretariat and comprises eight members. The other members of the Committee include Australia, India, New Zealand, Ghana, Grenada and Fiji. The Committee scrutinizes membership of the new and affiliated body of the Commonwealth.  Unanimous election of Bangladesh to the Executive Committee (ExCo) and the Accreditation Committee is a reflection of Bangladesh's deep commitment, contribution and leadership at the Commonwealth of Nations which was the first international organization where Bangladesh got membership after its independence under the prudent leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said the High Commission. Also read: Dhaka seeks Commonwealth support for Rohingya repatriation High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom and Member of the Commonwealth Board of Governors Saida Muna Tasneem will represent Bangladesh in both Committees. 

The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) has hoped that the country would do better in the 22nd Commonwealth Games 2022 in the UK's Birmingham and the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games in Turkey's Konya. Despite the exclusion of shooting, the discipline which brought all eight medals in the Commonwealth Games for Bangladesh, from the upcoming Birmingham edition, BOA Secretary General Syed Shahed Reza hoped that athletes would put up a better performance in the multi-sport event. "Bangladesh is doing well in shooting and archery at the international level. But this time, shooting has been excluded from the Commonwealth Games. Also, the discipline has been included in the Islamic Solidarity Games as skeet events, in which Bangladesh is not very strong," Reza said at a pre-games press conference in Dhaka Sunday. "However, I believe that the athletes will deliver their best in the international sports competitions and bring laurels for the nation." Read: NZ Rugby calls series loss to Ireland "not acceptable" A 50-member team will represent Bangladesh in seven disciplines – athletics, boxing, gymnastics, swimming, weight-lifting, wrestling, and table tennis – at the Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held from July 28 to August 8. Weight-lifter Mabia Akther Simanta, who clinched gold medals in the last two South Asian Games, will carry the national flag during the march past of the 22nd edition multi-disciplinary sports event. An 84-member Bangladesh team will participate in the Islamic Solidarity Games 2022, set to be held from August 9 to 18, in 11 disciplines – athletics, archery, fencing, gymnastics, handball, karate, shooting, swimming, table tennis, wrestling, and weight-lifting. Fencer Fatema Mujib, who won a gold medal in the last South Asian Games, will carry the red and green flag in the 5th edition of the multinational, multi-sport event, to be held during August 9-18. Bangladesh Archery Federation President Lieutenant General Mohammad Moinul Islam (retired); BOA Vice-President Sheikh Bashir Ahmed and Information, and Media Committee Member Secretary Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir were also present at the press conference.

The Rohingya crisis has entered its 6th year threatening human security, peace, and stability of the region, the Bangladesh foreign minister has said. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has reiterated that earliest repatriation of all forcibly displaced Rohingyas back to their ancestral homeland in Rakhine in safety and dignity remains Bangladesh’s compelling priority. Read: Rohingya Repatriation: Momen reiterates Dhaka’s call for expediting verification process Momen raised the issue during his intervention at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting held in Rwandan Capital Kigali on Thursday. He appreciated the Commonwealth nations  for incorporating a special text on Rohingya crisis in the Heads of Governments Communiqué.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has joined the Commonwealth ministers meeting on Small States, reassuring Bangladesh’s support in seeking the concrete actions by the international community to build resilience for the climate-vulnerable nations. The foreign minister reached Kigali, Rwanda on Wednesday to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), leading an eight-member delegation. He was received by the Bangladesh envoys to London and Nairobi and the high officials from the Rwandan government. This year, CHOGM is taking place from 24-25 June under the theme “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming” with the attendance of more than thirty heads of government. Also read: Encouraged by Malaysia’s leadership on Myanmar crisis: UN expert  In the afternoon, the FM had bilateral meetings with his counterpart, the Foreign Minister of Commonwealth of Dominica Dr. Kenneth M Darroux and the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G.L Peiris where the entire gamut of bilateral and multilateral issues was discussed.  

Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth, has recognised Kishore Kumar Das, representing Bangladesh, as the 223rd Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of his exceptional voluntary service founding ‘Bidyanondo’, a charity which has improved access to education for over 1,200 children from marginalised backgrounds. Kishore, aged 40, set up ‘Bidyanondo’ in 2013, which started with only 22 students and now runs five primary schools which are free to access, as well as running free academic coaching sessions and scholarship programmes to help children continue into Higher Education.  Kishore has also instigated a meal programme, “Ek takay aahar” (Meal for one penny), which has provided more than 10,000 nutritious meals for vulnerable people, particularly children and those who are homeless. During the Coronavirus pandemic, the charity further ramped up its efforts to distribute relief across the country, with Kishore and volunteers also working to sanitise public spaces and transport and provide ongoing educational, health and nourishment support to those in need. As part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, The Queen - as Head of the Commonwealth - is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 54 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond, by recognising one volunteer from each Commonwealth country every week. By sharing these stories of service, the Commonwealth Points of Light awards celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time. Kishore said: “I feel humbled to reflect on the fact that the world is benefiting from the work that we, the volunteers, are doing. And, the Commonwealth Points of Light validates that. Such honour helps volunteers to determine where our focus should be. I believe this prestigious recognition of 'Bidyanondo' will inspire different charitable organisations to be more humane and beneficiary oriented." “My earnest gratitude to Her Majesty the Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth for the recognition. Also, thanks to the British High Commission in Dhaka for acknowledging the hard work and determination of the volunteers of 'Bidyanondo' across Bangladesh.” Javed Patel, acting British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, said, “My warmest congratulations to Kishore Kumar Das on his Points of Light award. Through this recognition we also acknowledge the inspirational volunteers of 'Bidyanondo Foundation' who are contributing to eradicating hunger, empowering people and improving access to quality education in Bangladesh." "Their outstanding efforts continue to drive young people in Bangladesh and across the world towards the spirit of volunteerism and compassion. This award further strengthens the Brit Bangla Bondhon and the values of the Commonwealth.” The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 54 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace. The Heads of Government meeting brought together leaders from all the 54 Member countries to reaffirm common values, address shared global challenges and agree how to work to create a better future for all citizens, especially young people. Voluntary service is a vital part of this agenda, which is why Her Majesty The Queen has chosen to recognise outstanding volunteers across the Commonwealth in this special way.

In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, it has given me pleasure to renew the promise I made in 1947, that my life will always be devoted in service.  Today, it is rewarding to observe a modern, vibrant and connected Commonwealth that combines a wealth of history and tradition with the great social, cultural and technological advances of our time. That the Commonwealth stands ever taller is a credit to all who have been involved. We are nourished and sustained by our relationships and, throughout my life, I have enjoyed the privilege of hearing what the relationships built across the great reach and diversity of the Commonwealth have meant to people and communities. Also read: Queen Elizabeth II to skip Christmas trip amid omicron surge Our family of nations continues to be a point of connection, cooperation and friendship. It is place to come together to pursue common goals and the common good, providing everyone with the opportunity to serve and benefit. In these testing times, it is my hope that you can draw strength and inspiration from what we share, as we work together towards a healthy, sustainable and prosperous future for all. Also read: UK plans holiday weekend to honor queen's 70 years on throne And on this special day for our family – in a year that will include the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the Commonwealth Games – I hope we can deepen our resolve to support and serve one another, and endeavour to ensure the Commonwealth remains an influential force for good in our world for many generations to come. (Message from Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth)

Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) will assist Bangladesh sustain its robust economic growth after LDC graduation. Samantha Cohen, CEO of Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) said this at the meeting with Md. Jashim Uddin, president of FBCCI, held it on Sunday at a city hotel. Read: FBCCI calls for extension of loan moratorium till June The FBCCI president said that the businesses around the world are still not well-aware of Bangladesh’s rapid transformation that took place in the recent years and also about the tremendous opportunities that the “New Bangladesh” offers. FBCCI is keen to connect with the private sector of the Commonwealth countries to promote the government’s “Branding Bangladesh” initiative. Ms. Samantha mentioned that CWEIC will organize a high-level business delegation to Bangladesh later this year. She requested FBCCI to arrange B2B meetings and factory visits for the delegation to show them the compliance and competitive advantages of the growing sectors of the country. During the meeting, they discussed various aspects of mutually beneficial cooperation as well as how the Commonwealth platform can be utilized to retain Bangladesh's economic pace in the post LDC period. They talked on export diversification and exploring markets across Commonwealth states, collaboration to increase high-skilled workforce and innovation, investment in infrastructures with technology accessibility, streamlining trade facilitation and technical support to strengthen the potential sectors of the country etc. Read:FBCCI concerned over move to hike gas price CWEIC will also assist Bangladesh to enter the mainstream market of its major and highly potential trade partners including the UK, Canada and Australia as well as highlight Bangladesh's remarkable development accomplishments and innumerable potentials among its member states. FBCCI is the strategic partner of Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) and Jashim Uddin, President of FBCCI is one of the members of CWEIC's Advisory Board. Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, secretary general of FBCCI was also present at the meeting.