Bangladesh and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) or the French Development Agency have entered credit facility agreements (CFA) for three crucial development projects, totalling EUR 277 million (approximately USD 303 million).  The CFAs were signed on June 22 by Sharifa Khan, secretary to the Economic Relations Division, representing Bangladesh, and Benoit CHASSATTE, AFD country director for Bangladesh. Under the CFAs, AFD will provide EUR 62 million for the BRT project, EUR 175 million for the Chattogram Metropolitan Sewerage Project, and EUR 40 million for the BEST Project.  Also Read: BHBFC-AFD hold bilateral meeting on green-featured buildings The first project, known as the Greater Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project (BRT Company Component), aims to establish a sustainable urban transport system in Gazipur City Corporation (GCC). This project will introduce a 20 km Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor — serving as a pilot project to provide a holistic solution for integrated urban mobility.  The second project, the Chattogram Metropolitan Sewerage Project for North Kattoli, addresses the long-awaited needs of Port City dwellers. It involves the construction of a sewerage system and wastewater treatment infrastructure for the North Kattoli catchment area, located in the northwest part of Chattogram city. The third project, called the Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation (BEST) project, is a joint effort between AFD and the World Bank. It aims to enhance environmental regulations and enforcement in Bangladesh. The project focuses on curbing pollution and improving environmental quality by strengthening the country's technical and administrative capacity. Also Read: France keen on meeting Bangladesh’s needs for green investments: AFD Executive Director AFD, a bilateral development agency responsible for implementing official development assistance on behalf of the French government, has been actively operating in Bangladesh since 2012.  AFD’s support encompasses a wide range of development projects, including urban development and infrastructure initiatives such as water and sanitation, public transport, and urban services. They also focus on power and green energy projects, including energy efficiency and renewable power, as well as corporate and social responsibility endeavours aimed at enhancing safety standards and environmental and social performance. To date, AFD has committed EUR 2,101 million in technical assistance projects and has provided Bangladesh with a budget support loan of EUR 300 million, demonstrating its sustained commitment to the country's development. Read More: HCA signed, €609 million in loans approved by AFD for Bangladesh

A living exhibition and an open workshop titled "Learning from Puran Dhaka: The Urbanity of Occupations along the Buriganga Riverfront" began at La Galerie of the Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) Saturday. Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy and Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh Chargé d'affaires Thijs Woudstra joined the opening ceremony. "It's a beautiful project. The heritage of Dhaka is very important and the heritage of Old Dhaka is extremely important," said Ambassador Whitely, adding that it is very exciting to see some students will be exploring Old Dhaka.

Research-based art exhibition "River Delta" has begun at La Galerie of the Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD). River and Delta Research Center Chairman Mohammad Azaz attended the opening ceremony as the special guest Friday. River Delta is the first phase of an ongoing five-year study on Bangladesh's rivers. The exhibition is curated by Juel A Rob.  Artists Apu Raj Bongshi, Mohosin Kabir, Shimul Datta, Najmun Nahar Keya, Promotesh Das Pulak and Mohammad Hasanur Rahman are participating in the exhibition. Since Bangladesh is a riverine country, a large part of its food chain, trade, communication, and livelihood are river centric. Many communities are directly connected to rivers. The ebb and flow of the rivers weave the stories of many communities, including fishermen, river gipsies, washermen, salt cultivators, sailors, and shrimpers. However, after the passage of 51 years, Bangladesh has started to take precautions regarding the proper maintenance of water resources, said the AFD. So, it is very important to create awareness at all levels of society, to have constructive discussions, discharge civic and state responsibilities, and to prepare for the next step by studying different types of case studies, it added. "In that case, it is very important to understand the internal or international political context. Many issues, including complexities within the country, river encroachment; protection of river environment, aquatic life and fauna diversity, international power politics, protection of potable water bodies, ocean and river governance, are involved here," the AFD said.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will organise a three-day film screening in partnership with Alliance Francaise de Dacca (AFD) from December 13 to 15 at AFD. Four films will be screened at 4:30pm on these three days – "As I Want," "Stop Filming Us But Listen," "The Law of Love," and "Writing with Fire." All these films touch on key human rights areas – women empowerment, sexual harassment, gender-diverse communities, human rights defenders, and freedom of speech or expression. The inaugural ceremony will take place on December 13 at 4:30pm, with opening remarks from Chargé d'Affaires Thijs Woudstra, deputy ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, and M François Grosjean, director of AFD. This will be followed by the screening of Writing with Fire and a panel discussion with Huma Khan, human rights advisor, and Arnob Chakrabarty, managing director of Red Orange Media and Communications. Cor Stouten, first secretary for political affairs of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, will moderate the event. Also read: Top 10 South Indian Films Coming in November 2022

Showcasing magnificent woodcut on paper, the oldest form of printmaking, by young artist Abdullah Al Bashir, a solo exhibition titled ‘Evolution’ was inaugurated at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in the capital’s Dhanmondi on Friday. The exhibition is displaying more than 30 of Bashir’s exclusive artworks, based on his experience of exploring the ship-breaking process in Khulna and the environmental risks it poses in the country. Dhaka University pro-vice-chancellor (academic) Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal inaugurated the exhibition, while eminent artists Prof Syed Abul Barq Alvi and Prof Anisuzzaman Anis from Department of Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University, chairman of Radiant Pharmaceuticals Limited Md Nasser Shahrear Zahedee and AFD director François Grosjean joined the inaugural ceremony of the exhibition as special guests. Praising Bashir’s dedication to his craft, Prof Syed Abul Barq Alvi said, “I have always seen him busy with his work as a student of the Department of Printmaking at DU’s Faculty of Fine Arts. I have always noticed his special attraction towards woodcut and watercolour. He created a lot of work in these two media, based on his surroundings, nature, everyday life, and his work reflects his deep observation of things around him which all of us are amazed by.” Also read: Photo exhibition by Mongol Deep Foundation begins in city Abdullah Al Bashir secured first class in both his BFA in 2009 and MFA in 2010 from the Department of Printmaking. He then went to Yunnan Arts University in China for higher education with a scholarship, where he received the ‘All Media Best Award’ for his woodcut print in 2020. During his academic life, he achieved five scholarships. “After graduating from China, he suddenly moved to Bandarban, Rangamati, and remote areas, and worked there for a long time. In every work, detailing and use of colours are characteristic. His maturity in terms of colours is unmatched, I don't see sudden use of colour in his work. I take a lot of pride as a teacher to see my students, such as Bashir, who are still working in woodcuts,” Prof Anisuzzaman said at the event. Bashir has showcased brilliance in printmaking through not-often seen methods including relief, intaglio, and lithography, along with popular mediums such as woodcut, watercolour, etching, and drawing. Bashir’s hyper-realistic watercolour and his unique attraction towards woodcuts is notable. He has worked on huge woodcut blocks on multiple plates which are complicated yet unique techniques. “I observed the process of ship-breaking and its environmental impact in Khulna, and from that artistic liability, I produced this series of works,” Bashir told UNB. “I spent my childhood years at Shekhpara, Khulna. The place was surrounded by the sound of iron mills, labourers, abandoned iron pieces and abandoned ships at the shipyard, and I always tried to include these in my works and also explore the light and shade, as I wanted to expose the light and the darkness of our society.” “I have allegorically used ‘ship’ in my artwork series, through which I have tried to depict the universe, state, society and my own self which collapsed and is now fixed. The ship carries profound opportunities or dreams and hopes for the future. The ship will, one day, be functioning under the direction of an appropriate leadership or captaincy and take an appropriate course of action to keep things in balance,” Bashir explained his artistic vision. Abdullah Al Bashir’s first solo exhibition, titled “Viewing Depth”, was held in 2011 at Zainul Gallery, Dhaka University. The AFD exhibition will remain open to visitors till December 14, Monday to Saturday, from 3 pm to 9 pm.  

Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Jean-Marin Schuh and Project Officer ii-charge of the water and sanitation sector of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in Dhaka Fanny Nesen have visited the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) headquarters.

The French Development Agency (AFD) has agreed to provide a 100 million Euro loan to the government of Bangladesh to reinforce its role as an active participant in the search for and use of advanced digital solutions in power and energy sector in Bangladesh.

The Army, Navy and Air Force, led by the Armed Forces Division, have undertaken overall relief, rescue and medical assistance in the aftermath of super cyclone Amphan which lashed the coastal districts on late Wednesday afternoon with strong wind and heavy rains.

The Army,  Navy and Air Force, led by the Armed Forces Division (AFD), have made overall preparations to deal with the aftermath of extremely severe cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’.