US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and Director General of Bangla Academy Mohammad Nurul Huda on Tuesday inaugurated the US-funded cultural preservation project on SM Sultan’s artworks at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi. The 3-year initiative, funded through the U.S. government’s prestigious Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), supports study, analysis, and restoration of the largest collection of paintings by one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated artists and will train young Bangladeshi conservation professionals on sustainable conservation techniques, methodologies, and restoration models. Ambassador Miller presented a ceremonial plaque to the Bengal Foundation’s Director General Luva Nahid Chowdhury to formally inaugurate the project and toured the SM Sultan exhibition at the gallery.

Bangladesh will receive a consignment of Moderna vaccine doses on Monday evening.  The 3 million vaccine doses from the USA under COVAX facility are expected to reach at 7:20pm at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.  Also read: 'It's just the beginning': US ambassador on Moderna shipment's arrival Health Minister Zahid Maleque will remain present at the Airport.  Earlier, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller announced that Bangladesh will receive 3 million doses of Moderna vaccine under the COVAX facility.

Bangladesh will soon get 2.5 million doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine under COVAX facility as the country’s desperate wait for vaccines from many sources is getting longer.  Health Minister Zahid Maleque and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller have confirmed it. COVAX, the global vaccine alliance, has already written to Bangladesh that the Moderna vaccine shots will be arriving here within seven to 10 days. Also read: Bangladesh to get $ 940 mln ADB loans for procuring Covid vaccine Ambassador Miller tweeted saying that Bangladesh will soon receive a gift of 2.5 million doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine from the American people via GAVI. 

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.

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.”

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.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller on Wednesday praised the epidemiologists and public health experts who continue to serve as Bangladesh’s frontline of defense to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic has taught us many things. One of those things is policy and actions are only as effective as the science and data they are built upon,” he said. Miller said they can promote mask wearing and social distancing because they know the science and data tells them it works. “We can promote vaccination because the data from the vaccine trials and post vaccination surveillance tells us the vaccines are safe and effective. None of this is possible without epidemiologists and public health experts,” he said. The US Ambassador inaugurated the first “Bangladesh Congress on Epidemiology and Public Health” and the two-day conference (Wednesday-Thursday) includes in-person and online sessions sharing experiences and scientific lessons from Bangladesh about COVID-19; establishing a global network of public health experts to apply COVID-19 lessons to prepare for future pandemics and outbreaks; and building support for expanding the number of epidemiologists and public health experts in Bangladesh. Also read: Will work together with Bangladesh, global partners against Covid-19 pandemic: Miller The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is partnering with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), and the Epidemiology Association of Bangladesh to sponsor this first-ever national conference focused on the vital roles field epidemiology and public health play in saving lives and keeping people healthy from serious diseases in Bangladesh and across the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, MP and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller on Wednesday officially inaugurated the US-funded Lalbagh Fort cultural preservation and architectural documentation project in Old Dhaka.   The one-year initiative, funded through the U.S. government’s prestigious Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), supports restoring the Mughal-era Hammam Khana, one of three primary structures at the Lalbagh Fort complex dating from the 17th century.   Read Old Dhaka likely to get 120,000 prepaid gas metres Upon completion in 2022, both levels of the Hammam Khana will reopen to the public.  Ambassador Miller and Minister Khalid launched a ceremonial photographic drone to formally initiate work on the project and toured the grounds.    The “Restoring, Retrofitting, and 3D Architectural Documentation of Historical Mughal-era Hammam Khana at Lalbagh Fort” initiative will be led by the Ministry of Culture’s Department of Archaeology, using historically authentic materials to restore architectural features and an advanced retrofitting system to improve safety and structural stability.   Read All risky Old Dhaka buildings should be demolished: Minister

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller on Tuesday said America continues to work closely with Bangladesh in the fight against COVID-19 noting that the two great nations, together with their global partners, will prevail against this pandemic. He said they have provided over $73 million to support Bangladesh’s pandemic response and to date have sent 100 state-of-the art-U.S.-manufactured ventilators to treat critical patients. Ambassador Miller also gave a shout-out to his alma mater, the University of Michigan: “Go Blue!” The US virtually launched a webinar series linking medical universities in Bangladesh and the United States to share best practices in COVID-19 case management.  The two part-series contributes to the Strengthening Public Health Cooperation for a Safer Economy goal outlined in the September 30 high-level consultation between United States and Bangladesh, specifically by developing a Vision for Advancing the U.S.-Bangladesh Economic Partnership. Tuesday’s webinar was organized via partnership between the Directorate General of Health Services of the Government of Bangladesh and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Project ECHO, a platform for distant mentoring and learning managed by the University of New Mexico. Also read: US committed to work with Bangladesh to end trafficking-in-persons: Miller It is one of multiple capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing the knowledge and medical skills of doctors and other frontline workers in both public and private health facilities to improve the care given to COVID-19 patients and reduce and control the spread of the infection funded over the past year. The programme is made possible through over $73 million in COVID-19 response assistance from U.S. government agencies, according to the US Embassy in Dhaka.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and Rajshahi Additional Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Sujayet Islam joined a 'Student Leadership Development Workshop' held in Rajshahi.