Sheikh Hasina
LDC graduation: High-level committee starts working over possible challenges
A high-level committee has started working out strategy and plan to overcome the possible challenges of Bangladesh’s graduation from the status of a least developed country (LDC).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on April 26 last formed the 22-member committee, headed by Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, for preparation, planning, implementation and monitoring in tackling the possible challenges of Bangladesh’s LDC graduation.
The committee sat in its first meeting virtually on Wednesday. Dr Ahmad Kaikaus presided over the meeting, joining it from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The meeting discussed different possible negative impacts on the country’s economy, socioeconomic and other areas, especially in the export oriented sectors like RMG and pharmaceuticals during the post-graduation period.
Also read: Bangladesh’s LDC graduation: Govt has its plan to face next challenges
Economic Relations Divisions (ERD) Secretary Fatima Yasmin made a power-pint presentation in the meeting.
The committee decided to sort out the possible challenges in different sectors within a month. To this end, a six-member subcommittee was formed under senior secretary of Commerce Ministry Dr Md Jafar Uddin.
“The subcommittee was asked to identify the sector-wise challenges and prepare an action plan within one month,” PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah told reporters after the meeting.
Noting that Bangladesh would lose different international supports during the post-graduation period, he said duty free and quota free access and concessional loan facilities from bilateral or multilateral sources for Bangladesh would be narrowed for Bangladesh following the graduation.
Also read: Work together to tackle negative impacts after LDC graduation: Speakers
Besides, the issue of intellectual property rights would shrink any time after 2033, he said.
In the meeting, the committee also took the decision to arrange a large-scale seminar with experts of different sectors and academicians as early as possible to receive their views and opinions over the post-LDC challenges.
The committee will sit in a meeting every month regularly.
The committee members are Principal coordinator (SDGs Affairs) at the PMO (Zuena Aziz), senior secretary of ICT Division, Senior secretary of Finance Division, NBR chairman, the member (GED) of the Planning Commission, Senior secretary of Commerce Ministry, PMO secretary, ERD secretary, foreign secretary, industries secretary, agriculture secretary, environment secretary, BIDA executive chairman, chairman of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, liberation war affairs secretary, Planning Commission’s member Sharifa Khan, FBCCI president, BGMEA president, DCCI president, Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) president, director general (Executive Cell and PEPZ) at PMO (member secretary of the committee) joined the meeting.
Also read: Swedish development cooperation to continue past LDC graduation
Bangladesh has started its LDC graduation journey with the initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She participated in the 4th LDC related summit of the United Nations held on May 9-13, 2011, where “Istanbul Plan of Action” was adopted.
Since then, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the action plan for the LDC graduation of Bangladesh, and she has been giving directives to this end constantly, said the PMO Secretary.
Antimicrobial resistance can even threaten food security: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will not only endanger human, animal and plant health, but also threaten food security and the progress achieved in SDGs.
"The Covid-19 pandemic is the defining public health crisis of our time that has already taken more than three million lives. However, the impending pandemic, in the form of antimicrobial resistance, will cause even more harm to the global health," she said.
The Prime Minister said this in her pre-recorded video message in the 'One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (GLG-AMR)' as co-chair with Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley.
Sheikh Hasina said antimicrobial resistance can affect anyone, regardless of geographical location and socioeconomic condition.
Also read: PM Hasina suggests 5 actions to deal with drug-resistant diseases
"For AMR containment, we’ve to ensure strict adherence to Infection Prevention and Control-IPC measures. That’s possible through implementation of Global Action Plan-2015 on AMR and 2016 UN political declaration on AMR," she said.
In this regard, she put forward seven suggestions for addressing the challenges of AMR which is crucial for preventing future pandemics.
These include: Setting up of global, regional, and national targets and inclusive monitoring as well as reporting system to achieve the goals of ARC, developing guidelines and policies at different tiers for the appropriate use of antimicrobials and Sharing of scientific knowledge and technical assistance for ensuring effective and inclusive AMR surveillance and capacity building.
The others are: Ensuring equitable access to affordable and effective antibiotics and other medical facilities through technology transfer and sharing of ownership, sufficient and sustainable financing for AMR-specific and AMR-sensitive actions with special attention to low- and middle-income countries, public-private partnerships for investment in AMR containment; and inclusive, affordable and sustainable universal health care coverage.
Also read: People’s lives come first: PM Hasina
Talking about Bangladesh, she said the government has adopted numerous initiatives to ensure effective antimicrobial usage at the domestic level.
"We’ve developed a six-year National Strategic Plan and National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance Containment (ARC)," she said.
The Prime Minister said the plans aim to ensure rational use of antimicrobials in human health, livestock, fisheries, and agricultural sector.
She said Bangladesh is providing AMR data to WHO GLASS platform from 2019.
Besides, she said, the government is also involving the media to increase awareness among the mass people about the antimicrobial resistance.
Also read: Covid-19: Hasina for balancing livelihoods and public health
Hasina, as the co-chair of the Global Leaders Group on AMR, reiterated her call to the global leaders to establish AMR as a top priority issue in the political agenda to combat the threat of AMR and create a universal health care system.
The Prime Minister iterated her commitment to work together with the Prime Minister of Barbados as the co-chair of the Global Leaders Group on AMR.
She also appreciated the ongoing efforts of WHO, FAO, and OIE to formulate global strategies for tackling the upcoming challenges of AMR through a comprehensive and collaborative approach with diverse stakeholders.
PM asks state-owned companies to be self-reliant
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked state-owned companies like Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL) to be self-reliant so that they do not have to depend on government funds.
The Prime Minister made the directive while presiding over a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at the NEC Conference Room.
She joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Planning Minister MA Mannan briefed reporters after the meeting from an online platform.
“The Prime Minister instructed the state-owned companies to spend money from their own incomes. No money will be allotted from government funds in the future. They need to stand on their own feet,” said Mannan.
Also read: People’s lives come first: PM Hasina
He said the Prime Minister made the directive while approving a project titled ‘Installation of Telecommunication Network in Economic Zones (Phase-I)’ at the meeting.
BTCL will implement a Tk 90.12-crore project by June 2023 in Srihatta economic zone in Maulvibazar, Sabrang and Naf Tourism Park at Teknaf, Sonadia Tourism Park at Maheshkhali and Jamalpur Economic Zone. The entire money will come from the state coffer.
The Prime Minister also directed the authorities concerned to quickly complete the construction works on a super specialized hospital under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said Mannan.
The directive came during the approval of the first revision of ‘Specialised Hospital Establishment under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University’ project with the deadline extension and the rise in costs.
Also read: PM Hasina suggests 5 actions to deal with drug-resistant diseases
Now the project deadline has been extended up to June 2022 from December 2020, while the project cost raised to Tk 1561.18 crore from the original estimated cost of Tk 1,366.34 crore.
At the Ecnec meeting, a total of 10 projects involving the estimated cost of Tk 11,901.33 crore were approved, said the Planning Minister.
Of them, Tk 8,991.44 crore will be borne from government funds, while Tk 2,099.91 crore will come as loan from foreign sources and the remaining Tk 809.98 crore from the own funds of the organisations concerned, he said.
Nine of the projects are new while another is a revised one.
Also read: Govt’s focus on agriculture to tap its full potential: PM Hasina
The projects include modernisation and capacity enhancement of electricity supply by Rural Electrification Board in Khulna Division with an estimated cost of Tk 3076.23 crore by June 2025, Development of important rural roads in Cumilla, Brahmanbaria and Chandpur districts with Tk 2,500 crore by June 2025; and Construction of Upazila-Level Sheikh Russel Mini-Stadium (Phase-II) in 186 upazilas with Tk 1649.33 crore by June 2024.
The rest of the projects are Rehabilitation and Expansion of Teesta Irrigation Command Area at a cost of Tk 1452.33 crore by June 2024; Flood control, drainage and irrigation at Patia in Chattogram with Tk 1,158.36 crore by June 2024; Construction of 1.4-km Panguchi Bridge over Panguchi River at Morelganj in Bagerhat with an estimated cost of Tk 912.33 crore by June 2025; Construction of Multistoried Building for the Department of Public Libraries with Tk 524.25 crore by June 2024; and Development of Rangamat’s Kargoripara-Bilaichhari Road and construction of bridges and culverts with Tk 338.54 crore by June 2024.
Corona warrior: PM provides Tk 5 lakh for Dr Eftekhairul Islam’s treatment
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday provided Tk 5 lakh as financial assistance for the treatment of Dr Eftekhairul Islam, a frontline Corona warrior now on life support.
PMO Director Dr Mohammad Mohibul Hasan (Sumon), on behalf of the Prime Minister, handed over a cheque for the amount to Dr Eftekhairul Islam’s wife Dr Mahmuda Akter at Suhrawardy Hospital, said Assistant Press Secretary to the Prime Minister MM Emrul Kayas.
Dr Eftekhairul Islam, an officer of 33rd BCS (Health), was directly involved in providing treatment to the Covid-19 patients as a medical officer at the Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
He has been suffering from Covid-caused acute Demyelinating Haemorrhagic Leukoencephalomyelitis since April 7. He has been on life support since April 12 at the National Institute of Neuroscience Hospital.
Cabinet clears draft law for private medical, dental colleges
The cabinet on Monday gave the final approval to the draft of Private Medical College and Dental College Act, 2021 to ensure discipline in private medical and dental colleges by bringing those under a law from two separate guidelines.
The approval was given at the weekly cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Also Read: Cabinet approves one-man company provision
The Prime Minister virtually joined the meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The private medical and dental colleges in Bangladesh are now operated under the Private Medical College Establishment and Operation Guidelines 2011 and Private Dental College Establishment and Operation Guidelines 2009.
While briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said a medical or dental college must have at least 50 students while its teacher-student ratio will have to be 1:10 as per the proposed law.
A medical college needs to have at least two acres of land in any metropolitan area while the land requirement for the dental college is one acre, he said.
For setting up a medical college outside any metropolitan area, the land requirement is four acres and it is two acres for a dental college, said Anwarul Islam.
For a medical college, an amount of Tk 3 crore will have to be deposited with any commercial bank and Tk 2 crore for any dental college as reserve funds.
Also Read: New Cabinet took 36 decisions, implemented 24
The proposed law says any medical college must have one lakh square feet of space for academic purposes and another one lakh square feet of space for hospital purposes. For a dental college, the hospital space has to be 50,000 square feet each.
The cabinet secretary said the authorities concerned will inspect such colleges and hospitals from time to time.
He also said medical and dental colleges will have to be affiliated with any public university.
Anwarul Islam said the government will fix the academic fees for medical and dental colleges.
Besides, he said, private medical college or dental college authorities will have dispose of their wastes in a scientific manner.
In the case of violation of the law, the Cabinet Secretary said, the maximum punishment will two years of imprisonment or a fine of Tk 10 lakh or both.
Currently, there are some 70 private medical colleges and 26 private dental colleges in the country.
The cabinet also gave the final approval to the draft of Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones (Amendment) Act, 2021 to make it a more time-befitting one.
The cabinet secretary said that the old law, which was enacted in 1974, has to be amended amid the evolving situation.
The cabinet also approved in principle the Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Act, 2021 for scrapping two ordinances in this regard that were promulgated in the military regimes in 1976 and 1986.
There will be a corporation for which the authorised capital will be Tk 5000 crore while the paid-up capital Tk 200 crore. The corporation will have a chairman.
As per the proposed law, it can form a company, too.
PM donates Tk 10cr for Covid-hit homeless people
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday provided Tk 10 crore to two separate funds for helping Covid-hit people and the rehabilitation of landless and homeless people.
She provided the financial assistance from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust.
Of the amount, Tk 5 crore was given to the assistance fund for the Corona-hit prople, while another Tk 5 crore to Ashrayan Project for the rehabilitation of landless and homeless people.
The Prime Minister has provided Tk 10 crore at her personal initiative, said PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim.
Sheikh Hasina urged the affluent section of society to come forward in aid of the poor and destitute.
Covid 2nd wave: PM stands beside people in need
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is manifesting her humanitarian gesture towards the needy people hit hard by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic as she did during the first wave last year.
She is extending humanitarian support to the low-income people, including extremely poor, workless, day labourers, rickshaw and van pullers, transport workers and farmers who are bearing the brunt of the pandemic.
More than Tk 1,500 crore has already been allocated to ease the sufferings of the marginalised people during the second wave of coronavirus.
As part of her humanitarian assistance, the Prime Minister is going to provide cash support of Tk 2,500 to each 36.5 lakh low-income families engaged in different occupations so that they can survive this tough time.
On Sunday next, she will inaugurate the disbursement of the financial assistance for these marginalised families.
Also read: People’s lives come first: PM Hasina
“Soon after the second wave of coronavirus got visible, the Prime Minister instantly directed to start humanitarian assistance activities,” said Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah.
Noting that the Prime Minister sent cash support of Tk 2,500 to each 36.5 lakh families during the first wave, he said, “This time, she directed us to make cash transfer for the second time. The Prime Minister will launch the cash support disbursement among 36.5 lakh poor and helpless families on May 2.”
She has kept aside Tk 912.50 crore to provide cash support to 36.5 lakh families across the country, said the Secretary.
Each family will directly receive Tk 2,500 through G2P (Government-to-Person) as the cash money will be sent through mobile financial services (MFS) – Nagad, bKash, Rocket and SureCash.
Since the Covid-19 lockdown is enforced from April 14 last, marginalised people like temporary workless, destitute, day labourers, rickshaw and van pullers, transport workers, Hijra and beggars in urban and rural areas, said the PMO Secretary.
As per the PM’s directives, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry instantly sent Tk 590 crore to the field-level administration to provide support to the needy people and now the disbursement of the money continues, he said.
Also read: Covid vaccines should be declared as global public goods: PM Hasina
Besides, the Prime Minister allocated Tk 10.5 crore against the deputy commissioners from her relief and welfare fund to provide emergency assistance to poor and destitute people, said the PMO Secretary.
In addition, different government agencies continue their social safety net activities and expedite the activities in some cases so that the general people would not suffer, PMO Secretary Miah said.
The Prime Minister with own initiative has provided Tk 10 crore to the Journalist Welfare Trust as assistance for the journalists who are facing hardships due to the fallout of the pandemic, he said.
He said the government introduced a call centre (333) service mainly targeting the middle class people who feel hesitation or ashamed to seek assistance publicly. If anyone seeks help by calling 333, the local administration would send assistance to his or her home secretly, said the secretary.
Tofazzel Hossain said harvesting of paddy in the Haor region is being completed quickly as per the Prime Minister’s directives and 80 percent paddy has already been harvested.
He said the local administration took initiative to hire workers from other regions for harvesting paddy in the Haor region, while the ministry concerned supplied harvesters and reapers to the region.
PM Hasina suggests 5 actions to deal with drug-resistant diseases
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday stressed on the importance of five actions to fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as it is crucial for preventing future pandemics.
The Prime Minister put forward the actions at the high-level Interactive Dialogue on AMR through her pre-recorded statement played at the opening segment of the dialogue at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The actions include an integrated multisectoral action plan on AMR, including a collective action plan by the international community at both regional and global levels with special focus on low- and middle-income countries; and good manufacturing, laboratory practices and surveillance framework.
The three other actions are equitable access to affordable and effective antibiotics, as required, through transfer of technology and sharing of ownership; sustainable financing for AMR containment activities and finally global public awareness in combating AMR through political commitment and partnership among the member states.
Also read: People’s lives come first: PM Hasina
“Addressing the challenges of AMR is crucial for preventing future pandemics. We need to implement the 2015 Global Action Plan on AMR, 2016 UN political declaration on AMR, and formulate AMR national action plans,” she said.
As co-chairs of the Global Leaders Group on AMR, the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and Barbados stand ready to work with all relevant stakeholders in contributing to the fight against AMR, Hasina said.
She said the world is now witnessing the devastating pandemic of Covid-19. “However, antimicrobial resistance may cause even more lethal pandemics in the future.”
The Prime Minister mentioned that failure to tackle this hazard in time will result in huge loss of human lives, animals, and plants.
Also read: Hasina places 4 suggestions to deal with climate challenge
According to an estimate by the WHO, she said, 10 million people will die every year by 2050 from AMR, and economic losses will be trillions of dollars disrupting food security and progress towards achievement of the SDGs and universal health coverage.
Turning to Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said the government has developed a six-year (from 2017 to 2022) National Strategic Plan and National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance Containment (ARC).
Besides, she said, the National Technical Committee on ARC and the Bangladesh AMR Response Alliance have been formed.
Hasina said laboratory-based AMR surveillance for both human and animal health is being conducted regularly to ensure WHO categorisation. “Similarly, from 2019, we’ve been providing AMR surveillance data to WHO GLASS Platform.”
Also read: Covid vaccines should be declared as global public goods: PM Hasina
President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkir convened the high-level dialogue calling for accelerated action to tackle the growing threat of AMR.
AMR --referred to as a silent tsunami— has the potential to be the next global health crisis and has already affected the response to Covid-19.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat-increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
According to the UN website data, the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the ease with which infections can spread, threaten global health security and destabilise economies, lives and livelihoods. AMR is a rising pandemic and challenges the effective delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Also read: Implementation of Paris deal only way to check global warming: Hasina
Currently, at least an estimated 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant diseases. If no action is taken, drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 and damage to the economy as catastrophic as the 2008-2009 global financial crisis; and by 2030, AMR could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty.
Prime Minister of Barbados and also Co-chair of the One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance Mia Amor Mottley, President of the 75th UNGA Volkan Bozkir, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Qu Dongyu, Director General of World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Dr Monique Eloit and Deputy Executive Director of UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Joyce Msuya spoke at the opening segment of the dialogue.
Eid-Ul-Fitr: JaPa leader GM Quader greets PM
Jatiya Party Chairman and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Ghulam Muhammed Quader on Wednesday greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-Ul-Fitr.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, her Protocol Officer Md Abu Zafar Raju received a greeting card from GM Quader's Assistant Private Secretary M Abu Tayeeb.
Also read: People want to know initiatives about vaccine: GM Quader
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad and Deputy Opposition Leader and Jatiya Party Chairman Ghulam Muhammed Quader on the occasion of the Eid and sent greeting cards to them.
Implementation of Paris deal only way to check global warming: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday laid emphasis on the strict implementation of the Paris Agreement, saying that it is the only way to check global emissions and thereby global warming.
"The time to take action to save the planet is not tomorrow, but today," she said in her prerecorded video message in the Foreign Policy Virtual Climate Summit.
The Prime Minister said that climate change is not boundary-specific. "If one country emits, every country is affected. So, every country would have to play its role," she said.
She, however, said the rich countries, especially the G20 nations, should play the main role in halting the global emission.
Sheikh Hasina also hailed the USA's return to the Paris Agreement and appreciated US President Joe Biden’s decision and also about holding the Leaders’ Summit last week.
She stressed the importance of implementing the Paris Agreement wherein the international community pledged to form a USD 100-billion fund each year for the adaptation and mitigation purposes.
Hasina said that in the Paris Climate Accord, member countries have agreed not to allow the global temperature to rise above 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Also read: Leaders' Summit on Climate: Dhaka optimistic about $100 billion fund
"But nothing substantial has so far been done to check the emission of greenhouse gases which are responsible for the temperature rise," she bemoaned.
Sheikh Hasina said the global temperature is rising and there is no doubt about it. “And this temperature-rise is the main culprit of all ills. The continuous rise in global temperature is the most pressing concern for human kind.
"After the Covid-19, the most discussed subject of the time perhaps is climate change. Climate change has now become a huge threat to every country, especially the climate vulnerable countries like Bangladesh," she said.
The Prime Minister said that the entire world is passing through a tough time due to the Covid-19 pandemic claiming a large number lives and infecting hundreds of thousands more every day. "We need united efforts to get rid of the deadly virus."
Talking about the challenges of Bangladesh on the climate change issue, the Prime Minister said that countries like Bangladesh have been experiencing increased frequencies and ferocities of various natural calamities like flood, drought, tidal surge, nor’wester and lightning. "Currently, a heatwave is sweeping over my country."
Last year, she said that Bangladesh experienced heavy monsoon that submerged one-third of Bangladesh. Several cyclones, including super cyclone Amphan, also hit the country last year. “All these phenomena are due to climate change.”
Also read: Strict implementation of Paris deal only way forward for sustainable future: Dhaka
"Bangladesh is not an emitter. In fact, no member country of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) is a significant emitter. But we’re the worst sufferers. Every year 2% of my country’s GDP is lost to extreme climate events."
In this connection, she mentioned about the 1.1 million forcibly evicted Rohingyas from Myanmar that Bangladesh has given shelter in the environmentally critical Cox’s Bazar district heavily affected the ecology of the area.
Hasina also said that the bottom 100 countries account for just 3.5% of the global emission whereas the G20 countries are responsible for 80%. The CVF countries are at the forefront of climate adaptation.
She mentioned that Bangladesh is the first LDC to establish a Climate Change Trust Fund. So far, it spent over USD 415 million from its own resources to implement over 800 mitigation and adaptation programmes. “Our Parliament adopted a motion in 2019 declaring the current state of climate vulnerability as a planetary emergency.”
Hasina went on saying, "We’re planting 30 million saplings and launched a programme called 'Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan', marking the birth centenary of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."
She said that Bangladesh is spending on average 2.5% of its GDP equivalent to US$ 5 billion each year on climate adaptation and resilience-building. Bangladesh has built 12,000 cyclone shelters and 200,000 hectares of coastal green belts.
Also read: Hasina places 4 suggestions to deal with climate challenge
The scientists of Bangladesh have invented salinity and flood-tolerant crops, rain reservoirs and pond-sand-filters, floating agriculture technology and mobile water treatment plants for the coastal people, she said.
The Prime Minister said: "The provisions of water bodies and tree plantation are ensured while implementing any project. We’re creating artificial mangrove forests in the chars and shoals of coastal districts."
The government is building cyclone-resistant houses for the poor in the cyclone-prone areas, she said, adding, “For preserving water and increasing navigability, we are dredging rivers and canals throughout the country.”
She also mentioned that the Global Centre on Adaptation has set up its South Asian Regional Office in Dhaka. The centre is working to disseminate local-based innovative adaptation practices.
Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy Ravi Agrawal moderated the event.
The Prince of Wales Charles, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Foreign Minister of Japan Toshimitsu Motegi, President of COP26 Alok Sharma and Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth of United Kingdom Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP, among others, spoke at the programme.