United News of Bangladesh

Amid the ongoing war between two SAARC countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan, Bangladesh has decided not to make any public comments but stressed that such war does not bring anything good. "It is an unfortunate matter. We are not saying anything in public but we are trying to make our friends understand that such war is not good for anyone," Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his return from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia early Saturday. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir was also present. The Associated Press (AP) says Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged cross-border attacks overnight in a dramatic escalation of tensions that led Pakistan’s defense minister to say on Friday that the two countries are in a state of “open war.” Pakistan, Afghanistan trade strikes as Defense Minister declares “Open War” Afghanistan launched an attack on Pakistan late Thursday, saying it was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday. Pakistan then carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, saying it targeted military installations. On the sidelines of the extraordinary ministerial session of the executive committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Foreign Minister Dr Rahman held bilateral talks with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar; Foreign Minister of the Gambia, Sering Modou Njie; Foreign Minister of Palestine, Dr Varsen Ohanes Vartan Aghabekian; Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ambassador Musa Kulaklikaya; and also the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Waleed A Elkhereiji, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday. The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties and agreed to work closely together to promote 'peace, stability, and shared prosperity' in the region, according to Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Dr Rahman, during his recent courtesy meeting with Secretary General of SAARC Md. Golam Sarwar on February 24, reiterated Bangladesh's conviction in abiding commitment to the principles enshrined in the SAARC Charter including sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual benefit of the peoples of member states.  

Bangladesh has secured the top spot among SAARC nations in the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI). In fact, Bangladesh achieved the top position by moving 27 notches up in the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI) of Estonia-based e-Governance Academy Foundation this year. Read: China rejects hacking charges, accuses US of cyberspying Bangladesh currently occupies the 38th position among 160 countries with a score of 59.74. Bangladesh was ranked 65th in the December 2020 index. Project Director of BGD e-GOV CIRT Tarique M Barkatullah, who has been working on the cyber security of Bangladesh government, said that the country's capability in cyber security is increasing day by day, and thus gaining recognition in the world. "The BGD e-Govt CIRT is working tirelessly on cyber security. Such recognition will only encourage us to prevent cyber attacks and help increase Bangladesh's capability in cyber security," he added. Read: Bangladesh moves 25 spots up in Global Cybersecurity Index The National Cyber Security Index (NCSI) is created to assess cyber cases, crimes and major crisis management activities, and prevent basic cyber attacks by being prepared. Greece is in the top position with a score of 96.10 in the latest index published on the NCSI website. Czech Republic occupies the second position with 92.21 score, followed by Estonia with a score of 90.91. Read: UNDP launches 'MyResponse' campaign against cyberbullying The United States ranks 17th in the index, while the United Kingdom ranks 19th. Singapore is the only Asian country making it to the top 20, with 19th position. Among other Asian countries, Srilanka ranks 69th, Pakistan 70, Japan, 34, and China 83.

The second session of e-ITEC training on COVID-19 for health professionals in Saarc countries will be held from April 27 to May 6.   Sixty-eight health professionals from Bangladesh have so far taken the benefit of the online course   The presence of nearly 150 participants from seven countries showed commitment to overcoming Covid-19 together, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.    Earlier, India invited healthcare professionals from Saarc countries to join the online training course on prevention and management of COVID-19 pandemic.   All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur is conducting the training course titled ‘Covid19 Pandemic: Prevention & Management Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals’.

India has invited healthcare professionals from Saarc countries to join a five-day online training course on prevention and management of COVID-19 pandemic.

India has come up with a number of offers for Saarc countries to jointly deal with the coronavirus in the region.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday proposed creating a COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Saarc countries saying they can respond best only by coming together, not growing apart.

Stressing the need for forging collaboration among the Saarc countries through collective expertise and resources to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday proposed that an institution be established to prevent and fight any public health threat in the South Asian region in future.  

Bangladesh will highlight the importance of collaboration and partnership as the Saarc countries come together on Sunday afternoon through a videoconference to chalk out a strong strategy for combating coronavirus in the region.