Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday called for precaution instead of getting panicked after a series of mild quakes were felt in the north-eastern district. “Don’t get panicked. Stay alert. The government also remains aware of it. We will surely do whatever is needed,” he said in a video message to the people of Sylhet. Momen said he talked to the relevant ministers and officials including Sylhet City Corporation officials after back to back tremors  jolted the area on Saturday and Sunday. The Foreign Minister also suggested keeping emergency kits and first aid tools at homes for use when required. Also read: Five quakes hit Sylhet Momen said it is better to come out in the open in case of any emergency. He advised the people to call at 999 for any emergency and asked the hospital authorities to keep some beds ready for emergency treatment.   A day after six tremors hit Sylhet on Saturday, another mild quake was felt early Sunday. Senior Meteorologist of Sylhet Met office Syed Ahmed Chowdhury said the latest quake, measuring 2.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale, was felt at 4:35am.  The epicenter of the earthquake was in the bordering area of the district.  No casualty or damage was reported. Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and police officials visited the site. The authorities have identified two buildings as risky and asked the occupants to move to safety. Additional police have been deployed in the area to maintain security, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police BM Ashraf Ullah Taher.

Bangladesh will demand 10 percent of the funds that the humanitarian agencies raise in the name of Bangladesh and Rohingyas if they do not provide services to 100,000 Rohingyas to be shifted to Bhasan Char gradually, says Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. “Yes, they’ll have to pay because the funds are coming for Rohingyas. We’ll demand 10 percent of the fund if they don’t want to provide services to Rohingyas in Bhasan Char,” he told UNB in an interview at his residence on Friday. Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district and the government has a plan to shift 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char gradually which has already started. The Foreign Minister said it should not be the headache of the humanitarian agencies where Rohingyas are living. Also read: Rohingyas want to return to Myanmar; happy with Bhasan Char facilities “It’s not a matter whether Rohingyas are living in Kutupalong, Cox’s Bazar, Barishal or in Bhasan Char. That shouldn’t be their headache. Their headache should be providing services to Rohingyas. They’re obligated to give them services wherever they stay,” Dr Momen said. If the humanitarian agencies do not provide services to Rohingyas, Member States will not give funds which will put them in hardship, he said. The Foreign Minister said they do not know how the UNHCR and other agencies spend the money though they raise funds in the name of Rohingyas and host communities. Responding to a question on the technical team’s observation on Bhasan Char, the Foreign Minister said, “They’ve a very good and positive observation. Concisely, they’ve given a positive observation.” He said they will hand over a 10-page report based on their observations and they have already submitted a two-page synopsis. An 18-member UN delegation visited Bhasan Char in March to have a firsthand view of the housing facility for 100,000 Rohingyas. Also read: Japan announces $1 million emergency aid for Rohingya camp fire victims In their two-page synopsis, the team pointed out three points – education for Rohingya children, increasing heights of the embankments and better communication system. Dr Momen said Bangladesh has no problem in providing education to Rohingyas but it has to be in Myanmar language. “Rohingyas will have to go back to Myanmar. So, education in Myanmar curriculum will help Rohingyas integrate in their society easily once they return home,” he said. About further increasing the heights of the embankments, Dr Momen said they will certainly do it for their own needs. Also read: UN agencies ramp up response for Rohingya refugees after ‘unprecedented’ fire

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday urged Member States to expedite BIMSTEC process noting that an enhanced trade and investment in this region will facilitate income and employment generation. "Seamless multi-modal connectivity is a precondition for trade and investment promotion and people to people contact," he said. The Foreign Minister made the remarks at the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting virtually held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Thursday. Also read: Bimstec SG lauds Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development The meeting approved/endorsed several BIMSTEC agreements, conventions, MoUs and other important documents /instruments envisaged to be signed/adopted at the fifth BIMSTEC Summit. The Foreign Ministers and Senior Officials of all the seven BIMSTEC Member States joined the meeting. Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Masud Bin Momen accompanied the Foreign Minister in the meeting The 5th BIMSTEC Summit is expected to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka this year subject to the COVID situation. Dr Momen said BIMSTEC is a member driven organization and members organize the meetings and events to build consensus on cooperation and undertake programme of action in various sectors. "We need to work simultaneously on a faster pace in all priority sectors to bring synergy in our cooperation to make BIMSTEC a result oriented regional forum," he said. Dr Momen said Bangladesh is celebrating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th Anniversary of Independence. "The Father of the Nation was a visionary leader. In early 1972 he thought of working together with the neighbours in the region for collective progress and prosperity of our peoples. Regional cooperation has been our foreign policy priorities since then," said the Foreign Minister. He said the Father of the Nation’s able daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s decision to join BIMSTEC as its founding member in 1997 bears the testimony of our commitment to regional cooperation. Also read: Bimstec offers huge prospects for economic cooperation: Dhaka "It is manifested in hosting the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka. As the host country Bangladesh is committed to extend all possible support to strengthen the Secretariat," he said. Dr Momen said Bangladesh facilitated and supported the consideration and adoption of a series of vital documents in the meeting chaired by Dinesh Gunawardena, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and Chairman of the said Meeting. The meeting approved and recommended the finalized draft text of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, the finalized draft text of the Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka and the draft text of the MoU on Mutual Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies/Training Institutions of BIMSTEC Member States for signature during the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit. It approved the rationalization of sectors and sub-sectors of BIMSTEC and the Template of the Memorandum of Association (MoA) on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Centres/Entities for adoption during the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit. Also read: Dhaka for greater intra-OIC trade, contract farming It also adopted Joint Statement of the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting and BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity for onward submission to the 5th BIMSTEC Summit and recommended the draft Text of the Summit Declaration as per recommendation of the Special SOM held virtually yesterday in Colombo. "We need the legal documents to be ready for signature at the earliest," Dr Momen said adding that hosting meeting regularly and concurrences and participation of Member States in those meetings are very much crucial in this regard.