State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that Bangladesh requires $170 billion dollars investment in the power and energy sector by 2041. He said while addressing a session on "Strengthening the Future of Economic Growth of Bangladesh" at the high-level discussion meeting titled "U.S.-Bangladesh Economic Partnership: Shared Vision for Smart Growth" organized by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC on Tuesday. “There are profitable investment opportunities in different sectors and sub-sectors like LNG, renewable energy, smart grid, smart distribution, electric vehicle infrastructure, onshore and offshore hydrocarbon exploration,” said the state minister. Read More: Investment in Bangladesh will bring huge success: PM Hasina to Japanese businesses He also said that upgrading gas infrastructure, setting up petrochemical industries, reducing GHG emissions, smart gas distribution are among the sectors where US companies can invest and the government will provide special incentives to foreign investors. He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the vision of building a smart Bangladesh to build the golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “It needs financial investment as well as technical and knowledge-based cooperation to realise the vision,” he said adding that investment should come not only from multilateral development agencies, but also from the public and private sectors. Read More: Momen due to leave for US Friday with trade and investment high on agenda Eric Walker, president of Chevron's Bangladesh office and Dr. John Ardil, vice president of Exxon Mobil also addressed the event.

When Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina saw a group of BNP-Jamaat supporters protesting outside Ritz Carlton hotel in Washington DC amid cold and pouring rain, she invited them to come inside to talk about their problems. But the demonstrators poured cold water on her good gesture and left the place. This happened here on Tuesday. According to Prime Minister's speech writer M Nazrul Islam when Hasina was coming to hotel Ritz Carlton to attend a civic reception she saw that some supporters of BNP-Jamaat were demonstrating in front of the hotel. Read More: Arson terrorists, killers must not grab power again: PM Hasina “The Prime Minister saw it and at that time it was raining and biting cold outside,” he said. Hasina said since they (BNP-Jamaat supporters) are demonstrating outside in cold, let their representatives come in, according to Nazrul. “Let them come in here to say what they want,” he quoted the PM as saying. Read More: PM Hasina seeks long-term US partnership to build Smart Bangladesh The premier then asked her PS-II Al Mamun Murshed and one official from the the Bangladesh mission to bring them to the hotel. “But police officials here at first denied to allow them without the permission from the hotel authority, then the officials took the permission from the hotel authority for taking them inside. But the demonstrating BNP-Jamaat supporters left the place spurning the good gesture of the Prime Minister,” Nazrul mentioned. The prime minister sincerely wanted to listen to them, he said. Read More: Stay with us in implementing future physical & social mega projects: PM Hasina to WB

The spring meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) begins today (April 10, 2023) in Washington DC, USA. This meeting is likely to announce an allocation of USD $50 billion from the organisations to face the global crisis. The seven-day meeting will continue till April 16 at the headquarters of the IMF and the World Bank Group in Washington. Read More: Bangladesh's GDP growth expected to pick up to 6.2% in FY2024: World Bank According to the Ministry of Finance, a delegation of six members is participating in the spring meeting led by the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Abdur Rouf Talukder. Along with the governor, Bangladesh Bank Chief Economist Habibur Rahman, Finance Secretary Fatima Yasmin and Additional Secretary of Finance Department Rehana Parveen and two officials from the Economic Relations Department (ERD) are participating in the meeting. Apart from this, three more officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in the United States are expected to join the meeting along with the Bangladesh team. Read More: World Bank agrees to finance for development of metro rail-centric communication Generally, such meetings are led by the finance minister. However, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal is not joining the meetings this time. At this meeting of the World Bank Group, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a subsidiary of the organization, may announce an additional financing of $50 billion to deal with the global crisis. Being a member of IBRD, Bangladesh will also get the benefit of this financing, the finance ministry sources said. Read More: New World Bank leadership must put Climate Action as top priority: V20 The World Bank's spring meeting will be chaired by President of France Emmanuel Macron, and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley. They will be joined by world leaders, academics, development experts and climate experts. Besides, finance ministers, central bank governors of 189 World Bank member countries will participate.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC observed the historic 7th March, commemorating Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's landmark speech in 1971, which called the nation to be ready to fight for freedom. The fiery speech of Bangabandhu on March 7 at a mammoth rally in the then "Race Course Maidan", now Suhrawardy Udyan, inspired the freedom-loving Bangalees to fight and earn the long-cherished independence of Bangladesh in 1971. The day's program of the Embassy started with the formal hoisting of the National Flag by Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran on the Embassy premises in the morning. Officials and employees of the Mission were present on the occasion. Later, the Ambassador placed a wreath at the bust of the Father of the Nation at the Bangabandhu Corner of the Embassy in the presence of Embassy officials. After laying the wreath, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the great leader. Also Read: Historic 7 March observed in Tokyo The messages issued on the occasion by President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were read out by Minister (Political-I) & Head of Chancery Dewan Ali Ashraf and Counsellor (Political-III) Shamima Yeasmin Smrite. Later, a video film on the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu was screened. Afterwards, a discussion highlighting the significance of the day was organized. Taking part in the discussion, Ambassador Imran paid deepest homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of the historic March 7 and highlighted different aspects of his epic speech. He termed March 7 as an unforgettable day in the history of the nation and said on this day in 1971, Bangabandhu delivered the momentous speech at the then Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) in Dhaka, effectively declaring the War of Independence. Realizing the importance of the historic speech, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has included the speech in its Memory of the World International Register, a list of the world's important documentary heritage, he said. Ambassador Imran called upon all to work unitedly to build a hunger-and-poverty-free happy and prosperous 'Sonar Bangla' (Golden Bengal), as dreamt by Bangabandhu, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The day’s program ended with offering a special prayers seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the departed soul of Bangabandhu as well as Bangladesh's continued peace, progress and prosperity. First Secretary Md Ataur Rahman conducted the program.  

M Shahidul Islam, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States of America, has recently presented his letter of credence to President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader.    Ambassador Islam, based in Washington DC, is also concurrently accredited to Belize, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guyana and Haiti to represent Bangladesh. The ceremony for the presentation of credentials took place at the National Palace in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, said the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington DC on Friday.  Read: Shahidul Islam new Bangladesh Ambassador to USA  Vice President Raquel Pena de Antuna and Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez were present. Islam conveyed the greetings of the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to the President of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican President welcomed the Ambassador, appreciated Bangladesh’s strong economic performance and expressed keen interest to strengthen his country’s relations with Bangladesh. Ambassador Islam also held a separate meeting with the Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez on Thursday and discussed bilateral cooperation including the proposals for signing three agreements relating to the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) agreement on visa waiver for the holders of diplomatic and official passports as well as to establish a Joint Working Group on the promotion of trade, investment. The Dominican Foreign Minister expressed hope to visit Bangladesh next year.  The Ambassador was accompanied by Counsellor Md Mahmudul Islam and Honorary Consul of Bangladesh to Dominican Republic Joan Gonzalez. 

The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC has celebrated the grand opening of long-cherished Padma Multipurpose Bridge with much enthusiasm and fanfare. On the occasion, the Embassy organised a discussion session at its Bangabandhu Auditorium on Friday night before the grand opening of the bridge in Bangladesh on Saturday. Taking part in the discussion, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam said the Padma Bridge is our pride and it's a symbol of our glory and self-dignity. The Ambassador said Prime Minister and Bangabandhu's worthy daughter Sheikh Hasina has fulfilled the long-aspired dream of 180 million people of the country by completing the work of the bridge with Bangladesh's self-funding. Read: Padma Bridge is a befitting reply to conspirators, PM tells a huge rally after its opening The implementation of the country's largest infrastructure project has been possible due to the far-sighted and prudent decision and leadership as well as a rock-solid determination and morale of the Prime Minister by countering all the conspiracies at home and abroad, Ambassador Islam said. He said by building the bridge, the Prime Minister has shown the whole world that Bangabandhu's Bangladesh has the capacity and capability to implement such a mega project. Earlier, Deputy Chief of the Mission Ferdousi Shahriar delivered the welcome remarks. World Bank (WB) Vice-President Junaid Kamal Ahmed and North Carolina Central University Professor Dr ABM Nasir took part in the discussion as special guests.

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington DC has celebrated the Independence and National Day of Bangladesh with a renewed vow to materialise the dreams of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of the great Liberation War. The day's programmes began with hoisting of the National Flag by Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M. Shahidul Islam on the Chancery premises. Later, the Ambassador, accompanied by the Embassy officials, placed a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After laying the wreath, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the great leader.  The messages issued on the occasion by the President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam were read out. Later, a discussion session was held at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Embassy. Taking part in the discussion session, Ambassador Shahidul Islam termed the great Independence Day as a glorious day of Bangladesh and extended his heartfelt greetings to all Bangalees across the USA on the occasion. He also paid deep homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and three million martyrs of the War of Liberation. The Ambassador recalled the bloody massacre in Dhaka perpetrated by the Pakistani military junta, breaking the silence of the night of 25 March in 1971 as they mercilessly killed hundreds of thousands of innocent sleeping Bangalees, including teachers, students, police members, soldiers, pedestrians and rickshaw-pullers. Ambassador Islam said in the wake of the Pakistan army's barbaric attack on the unarmed Bangalees, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of 26th March in1971. The nation, he said, soon launched the War of Liberation at the call of the Father of the Nation, and under his fearless leadership, Bangladesh achieved long-cherished independence on December 16 in 1971 after the nine-month bloody war against Pakistan. The Ambassador said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought throughout his life for transforming Bangladesh into a peaceful and prosperous 'Sonar Bangla' (Golden Bengal). But Bangabandhu could not materialise his cherished dream as he was brutally assassinated by the anti-liberation elements on the black night of 15th August in 1975, Ambassador Islam continued. "So we have to work unitedly and ceaselessly to turn Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country being imbued with the ideology of the Father of the Nation and the spirit of the War of Liberation," he concluded. The programmes ended with offering a special prayer seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation and the martyrs of the Liberation War. "Genocide Day” Observed  The Embassy also observed the “Genocide Day” on Friday, recalling one of the most brutal genocides in world history that was committed by the Pakistan army on 25th March in 1971 in Bangladesh. The Embassy organized elaborate programmes to pay deep homage to the martyrs who were killed mercilessly by the Pakistan military junta's operation code named "Operation Searchlight” on the black night of 25th March that year. The day's programmes began with observance of one-minute silence to pay profound respect to the martyrs of the War of Liberation. This was followed by screening of a documentary titled "Recognising the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide: An Appeal for Rendering Justice". Later, the messages issued by the President and the Prime Minister were read out. A special prayer was offered seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of the War of Liberation. Ferdousi Shahriar, the Charge d'Affaires of the Bangladesh Embassy, Professor Irene Victoria Massimino, Co-founder and Co-President of the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, and Dr. Tawheed Reza Noor, Visiting Scholar of the State University of New York and Member of International Association for Genocide Scholars (IAGS) spoke at a discussion session held virtually at the Embassy. Dr. Tawheed Reza Noor, son of martyred intellectual and renowned journalist Serajuddin Hossain, worked with the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention (LIGP) that on 31 December, 2021 recognized as "Genocide" the Pakistan army's atrocities during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971. READ: Independence Day celebrated in New Delhi Noor played an instrumental role behind the historic recognition as the US-based organisation responded positively to his appeal which he initiated with the institute in mid-November last year, the year that commemorated 50th anniversary of Independence of Bangladesh. The Visiting Scholar of the State University of New York said Genocide Watch, another US-based organisation, recognised as genocide the brutal crimes committed by the Pakistani occupation forces a month after LIGP's recognition. Prof Massimino, in her remarks, paid tributes to the victims of genocide in Bangladesh and said that the genocide was committed in 1971 against Bengali nation and identity. Praising the Bangladesh government for its efforts to earn international recognition of the genocide, Prof Massimino, also a lawyer from Argentina, said there are many legal elements to recognise the genocide committed in 1971. The Co-founder of Lemkin Institute recalled her visit to different sites that bear the marks of genocide in Bangladesh. Both the speakers shared their thoughts on the efforts of the Bangladesh government and suggested to take a well laid out plan to move forward with the recognition process. The Charge d'Affaires, in her speech, paid deepest respect to the greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and three million martyrs of the Liberation War. Ferdousi Shahriar said Bangabandhu formally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of the 26th March 1971 after the Pakistan army's barbaric attack.Under Bangabandhu's fearless leadership, Bangladesh achieved ultimate victory on December 16 in 1971 after the nine-month bloody war against Pakistan, she said. READ: Independence Day celebrated at DU The programmes of the Embassy ended with staging 'Candle Light Vigil' in memory of the martyrs of the War of Liberation.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Murad Hasan has stressed the need for standing together against all sorts of disinformation campaigns conducted from abroad against Bangladesh and the government. The State Minister was addressing the officers of the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington D.C. at an exchange of views programme on the importance of Public Diplomacy while referring to the recent violence during Durga Puja. He stressed the need to strengthen public diplomacy for building a positive image of Bangladesh abroad. The meeting, held recently, was presided by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the USA, M. Shahidul Islam. Also Read: Will revert to 1972 constitution; bill to be placed soon: Murad The State Minister advised the officers of the Embassy to give special attention to develop good relations with the United States, which is a very important country for Bangladesh. He highlighted the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in advancing the economic progress of the country and saving people’s lives from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left New York for Washington, D.C. by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Saturday. Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Rabab Fatima saw her off at the airport at 9:15 am (local time), said PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim. Read: PM joins opening session of 76th UNGA general debate The flight is scheduled to land in Washington DC at 10:15am (local time). Bangladesh Ambassador to USA M Shahidul Islam will receive her at Dulles International Airport, Karim said. She will stay in Washington, D.C. till September 30. Read: PM arrives in New York to attend UNGA Hasina is scheduled to leave Washington for Dhaka on September 30 and return home on October 1, after a short stopover in Finland.

Dhaka, Apr 3 (UNB) - Mayor of Washington DC Muriel Bowser has declared March 26, 2021 "Bangladesh Day." She congratulated the government and people of Bangladesh on the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence which concurs with the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington on Saturday. Also read: Washington, DC declares Mar 26 ‘Bangladesh Day’ A proclamation signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser says that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is blooming and transforming into "Golden Bangla" as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.