European Union (EU)
EU assures continued trade benefits to Bangladesh after LDC graduation
The European Union (EU) on Tuesday assured to continue trade benefits for Bangladesh even after graduation from LDC.
The newly appointed EU ambassador to Dhaka Charles Whiteley assured this while meeting with Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, at the secretariat office.
The meeting focused on bilateral interests of trade development and comprehensive cooperation, including expansion of trade and commerce between Bangladesh and the EU.
Read: BGMEA requests EU to continue duty benefit for 12 years after LDC graduation
They also discussed regarding next schedule of the European Union-Bangladesh business climate dialogue, diversification of Bangladesh's export products, extension of GSP benefits provided by EU for Bangladesh; foreign investment in Bangladesh's logistics sector; organizing programs on capacity building, e-commerce, environment, compliance, market access, continuing post-graduation cooperation from LDC, etc.
EU Officials, additional secretaries of the Commerce Ministry Md. Hafizur Rahman (Export), Nur Mohammad Mahbubul Haque (FTA), among others, were present.
Will follow next polls very closely amid Bangladesh’s growing importance globally: EU
Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Monday said they will be following the next general election “very closely” because the international community is “very interested” in what happens in Bangladesh amid its growing engagement globally as a developing economic power house.
“I think we’ll be following it very closely. Why we’ll be following it very closely is not because we want to interfere but the international community is very interested in what happens in Bangladesh,” he said.
The Ambassador said everybody has a stake in what happens in that election in Bangladesh which is a strategic part of this region and a developing economic power house where ties are developing.
The EU envoy made the remarks while responding to a question at “DCAB Talk” held in a city hotel. Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) President Pantho Rahaman and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the event.
Read: GSP-plus vulnerability criteria: BGMEA thanks EU for removing 7.4% import-share threshold
Ambassador Whiteley said the key word around elections is exactly the “process” and elections are not events.
EU to remain “steadfast partner” of Bangladesh on Rohingya front: Envoy
Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Ambassador Charles Whiteley has said they will continue to be a “steadfast partner” of Bangladesh in meeting the needs of the Rohingya and the host community with continued pressure on Myanmar for their safe return to their place of origin in Rakhine State.
“Clearly, I think, the majority of the Rohingya do want to go back to home,” he told UNB in an interview mentioning that everyone, including the government of Bangladesh, underlined that any return has to be “voluntary and safe” for the refugees.
Responding to a question on the EU's business link with Myanmar, the EU envoy said they are very careful when it comes to the economy as some people say why the EU does not suspend the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme.
Read: ‘Sky is the limit’, says new EU envoy eyeing dynamic relations with Bangladesh
Myanmar has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 1995 and, as a least developed country, benefits from the EBA scheme, which grants unilateral duty- and quota-free access for all exports, except arms and ammunition, to the EU.
EU lauds Bangladesh’s leadership on climate front
The European Union (EU) has commended Bangladesh’s leadership of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the V20 Climate Vulnerables Finance Summit.
The EU invited Bangladesh to consider a Green Partnership with the EU as both sides will discuss it in detail at the climate dialogue in Dhaka in early 2022.
Bangladesh praised the EU’s commitments towards climate action and the EU provided further information regarding its proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
The EU and Bangladesh met for their fourth Diplomatic Consultations in Brussels recently and discussed the issues.
Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Masud Bin Momen while the EU delegation was led by the European External Action Service Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific Gunnar Wiegand.
The discussion covered a range of topics and priorities in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation, with the EU signaling, inter alia, interest to support renewable energy, notably regional hydropower generation, and energy connectivity.
Both sides underscored the importance of updated Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and the need for mobilizing adequate funding for mitigation as well as adaptation, according to the joint press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Wednesday.
Fair Prices Sought
The EU appreciated Bangladesh for its continuing success as the by far largest beneficiary of the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) unilateral preferential trade scheme.
The EU welcomed the finalisation and publication by Bangladesh of its National Action Plan on the Labour Sector and stressed the need for its comprehensive implementation as per the stipulated timelines.
Bangladesh reiterated the need for ensuring fair prices, especially in view of the investments being made in safer and greener factories.
The EU reiterated its appreciation for the generous role and action of the people and Government of Bangladesh for continuing to temporarily host a million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar for more than four years.
The Bangladesh side thanked the EU for its political and humanitarian support in the aftermath of the crisis.
EU voices concern over some DSA provisions
The European Union (EU) has raised the Digital Security Act (DSA) issue, expressing worries that some of its provisions risk going beyond the stated purpose of fighting digital crimes.
It also enquired about certain ongoing trials in this context and encouraged Bangladesh to implement the recommendations made during the last Universal Periodic Review.
Read: Rohingya Crisis: European Commissioner due Tuesday
The EU and Bangladesh met for their fourth Diplomatic Consultations in Brussels recently and discussed the issues.
BGMEA requests EU to continue duty benefit for 12 years after LDC graduation
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the European Union (EU) to continue its trade benefits for Bangladesh for 12 years after the country's graduation from LDCs in 2026.
The extension will help Bangladesh in making smooth transition from LDC and preparing to face post-graduation challenges, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said during a meeting with Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Wednesday.
BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali was also present at the meeting.
Read: BGMEA seeks Germany's support to continue duty benefits in EU
Faruque apprised the newly appointed EU Ambassado of the present situation of Bangladesh’s RMG industry, its challenges, opportunities and future priorities.
He also shared the impressive achievements of the industry in workplace safety, environmental sustainability and workers’ wellbeing.
The BGMEA chief thanked the European Union for its move to remove 7.4-percent import-share threshold from the GSP-plus vulnerability criteria, as the step will pave the way for Bangladesh to apply for GSP-plus benefit after its LDC graduation.
He also hoped the friendly support and cooperation of the European Union to Bangladesh, especially for the RMG industry will continue in the coming days.
The BGMEA president sought cooperation of the EU in developing capacity of the students of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) in textile, apparel, fashion and business through collaboration with leading EU universities.
Protect & evacuate all media personnel from Afghanistan, journo bodies urge G7
More than 50 civil society and journalists’ organisations, including ARTICLE 19, have urged the G7 countries to ensure the protection and subsequent evacuation of all media personnel from war-ravaged Afghanistan.
The group of leading industrial nations -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the USA and the European Union (EU) -- is preparing to hold an online summit on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
Read: Evacuation flights resume in Kabul after deadly bombings
Ahead of this summit, the rights bodies operating at the international level, in a joint letter, have asked the G7 countries to make a clear and explicit commitment to taking journalists as an urgent priority, ensure their protection and evacuate them and their families from Afghanistan.
Faruq Faisel, the Regional Director for ARTICLE 19 South Asia, in a separate statement said, “ARTICLE 19 expresses solidarity with Afghan citizens, millions of whom are now living in abject fear."
ARTICLE 19 is committed to working with partners to support journalists and media workers, human rights defenders and women’s rights activists, academics, writers, artists and educators, all of whom are at serious and immediate risk of targeted violence at the hands of the Taliban.
“G7 members must increase their current support for those journalists and media workers at risk... and pay particular attention to the situation of women with immediate priority.
Read: What's happening with Afghanistan evacuations?
"G7 governments must ease visa restrictions for these people and their families seeking asylum as well as simplify and secure the process for visa application, and collaborate with third countries when possible," Faisel said.
ARTICLE 19 also urged the international community to ensure the continuation of the negotiations for a government based on the participation of all parties in Afghanistan and hold the Taliban accountable to its responsibilities to respect international human rights law.
Bangladesh hopeful of receiving 3.5 mln vaccine doses from COVAX this month: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said Bangladesh is hopeful of receiving more vaccine doses this month from Japan, the European Union (EU) and the USA under COVAX facility apart from a steady flow of that from China.
“We’re in a good position now. I should say we’ve made a line up. I think there’ll be no vaccine crisis, and the vaccination programme will continue uninterruptedly,” he told a small group of reporters at his residence.
Dr Momen said Bangladesh is expected to get around 2.5 million doses of vaccine from Japan while 1 million from the EU under the COVAX facility. “These’re likely to be AstraZeneca vaccine doses.”
The Foreign Minister said he talked to the Japanese Foreign Minister recently and Bangladesh mentioned about Japan’s vaccine supply to others.
Dr Momen said Japan will provide vaccine doses to Bangladesh, too but the exact quantity was not mentioned. But a big quantity of vaccine doses is expected to arrive this week or next week under the COVAX facility. “We expect it’ll be around 2.5 million doses.”
Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh recently got 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine doses from the USA under the COVAX facility. “US informed us that there’ll be more.”
He said the government has planned to bring vaccine doses from Sinopharm over the next three months as per the plan, and the first consignment of 2 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine has already arrived.
Read:Chinese firms working with Bangladeshi partners for vaccine co-production
Grant financing deal of EUR 12mn signed to support power, energy sector
The French Development Agency (AFD) and the government of Bangladesh have signed a grant financing agreement of EUR 12 million or around Tk 1.24 billion to support advanced digital solutions in the power and energy sector in Bangladesh.
This agreement is part of a larger multi donor project involving the joint commitment of AFD and the European Union (EU), for a total investment of EUR 112 million.
Read:Bangladesh receives 2nd shipment of medical supplies from US
The project, called “Power Factor Improvement and Smart Grid under Dhaka Power Development Company (DPDC) Dhaka, Bangladesh” is the first ever smart grid project in Bangladesh and will be implemented over the next 5 years, said a media release.
EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink said the European Union is committed to supporting Bangladesh in adopting advanced digital solutions in power distribution, in view of a sector decarbonisation, thanks to the joint effort with one of our Member States, France.
"This project is also relevant for the Team Europe Initiative on Green Energy Transition, which involves the EU, its Member States and like-minded partners. It aims at supporting Bangladesh in its transformative, low-carbon development, through an increased use of renewable energy and energy efficiency enhancement.”
Benoit Chassatte, AFD Country Director said for AFD in Bangladesh, 2020 was an opportunity to amplify existing commitments to modernize Dhaka’s power grid.
This is the first ever initiative in Bangladesh to equip the existing grid with reliable, cutting-edge new technology, allowing DPDC to optimize energy distribution without making an unnecessary additional heavy network capital investment.
Read:Formal announcement over vaccine coproduction soon: FM
"In addition, AFD has increased its commitment in the energy and power sector in Bangladesh by financing (EUR 151.56 million) in 2020 the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) and the Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited (BIFFL), both public financial institutions specializing in the financing of infrastructure and renewable energy projects, and the promotion of green initiatives.”
Through this project, 1,141,000 people will benefit from a significant improvement in the quality of electricity service.
It will also prevent an accumulated 104,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, thereby contributing to Bangladesh’s climate goals.
With this project, AFD and the EU are reinforcing their role in supporting the Government of Bangladesh in the search for and use of advanced digital solutions in distribution stations and in medium-voltage grids.
The goal is to equip existing infrastructure with these new, innovative and reliable technologies in order to ensure services are prepared for the future.
Read:G7 must ensure vaccine access in developing countries: UN experts
A core aspect of Bangladesh’s economic development strategy is an improved performance of the power sector in terms of generation, transmission, and distribution.
The smart grid in Bangladesh is in its early stages, and merely consists of deploying smart meters.
Prioritise inoculation, share excess doses, WHO urges nations
With Covid-19 vaccines currently in short supply, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday urged governments to prioritise inoculation of health workers and the elderly, and share excess doses with other nations.