United News of Bangladesh

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved two projects totaling $700 million to provide basic services and build disaster and social resilience for both the host communities and displaced Rohingya population in Bangladesh.  Nearly one million Rohingyas have fled violence in Myanmar to Bangladesh since 2017, making it one of the largest forced displacement crises in the world, it said in a media release. World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Abdoulaye Seck said that the World Bank greatly appreciates the Government of Bangladesh’s generosity in supporting nearly one million Rohingya people.  "We also recognize the enormous pressure placed on the host communities. With the crisis entering its seventh year, long-term planning and sustainable solutions have become critical, while also addressing short-term, urgent needs. We are fully committed to supporting the Government of Bangladesh to address this complex crisis and support the wellbeing of both the Rohingya and host communities.” The $350 million Inclusive Services and Opportunities for Host Community and Displaced Rohingya Population Project and the $350 million Host and Rohingya Enhancement of Lives Project will together provide support to the Bangladeshi host communities and the Rohingya people as this crisis enters its seventh year.  Nearly 1 mln Bangladeshis at risk of poverty: World Bank The interventions supporting the Rohingya population will be financed by the World Bank as grants under the IDA20 Window for Host Communities and Refugees. The Inclusive Services and Opportunities for Host Communities and Displaced Rohingya Population (ISO) Project will build on active investments in livelihoods and essential health, nutrition, family planning, gender-based violence response and prevention services for at least 980,000 people in the Rohingya and host communities.  The project will prioritize investment in human capital development, with the aim to support the education of 300,000 Rohingya children under the age of 12. World Bank Task Team Leader for the ISO Project S. Amer Ahmed said that the protracted displacement crisis that the Government of Bangladesh is addressing is ultimately a challenge about supporting people, whether they are in the host community or in the displaced Rohingya population. “The ISO Project will be supporting vulnerable households in both communities to invest, protect, and use their human capital through support for temporary work, training, education, child protection, primary healthcare, nutrition, family planning, and gender-based violence response and prevention services.” The Host and Rohingya Enhancement of Lives Project (HELP) will improve access to basic services and enhance the resilience of at least 645,000 people in the Rohingya and host communities.  Project activities will encompass urgently needed investments in water, sanitation, and hygiene; climate resilient roads; renewable energy; and multi-purpose disaster shelters – underlying foundations critical to supporting productive livelihoods.  The project will also focus on providing skills building for operations and maintenance at both the government and community levels, aiming for a dual benefit of infrastructure sustainability and longer-term skills development. World Bank Task Team Leader for HELP Swarna Kazi said that Disaster and climate resilience are ever more critical as the crisis became protracted. The Rohingyas continue to live in extremely congested settlements and have minimal access to basic services. The host communities are also deeply impacted, with continued additional pressure on limited resources.  “The Host and Rohingya Enhancement of Lives Project will provide key investments to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure and further work to ensure they are sustained and maintained in the medium to long-term.” Around 70 percent of the displaced Rohingya people in Bangladesh are women and children, and half are less than 15 years of age.  World Bank, ADB support to cope with Rohingya crisis must be grant, not loan: TIB The two projects recognize the differentiated impact of the crisis on women, children, and other vulnerable groups. Focused activities to address this include investments in gender-based violence prevention; safely managed, gender-sensitive, and climate resilient sanitation and hygiene facilities; solar streetlights for safety; and focused trainings for women on community-based disaster risk management. The two projects follow the World Bank’s support of $590 million grant since the onset of the crisis and are underpinned by the lessons learned through these earlier interventions, as well as learnings from forced displacement crises around the world.  The World Bank has helped the Rohingya people and host communities on disaster preparedness, basic infrastructure, social protection, collaborative forest management, and income generation opportunities for the host communities.

Expressing Bangladesh’s support for the UN Special Envoy on Vision and a Global Eye Health Summit in 2026, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has reaffirmed that Bangladesh would continue to play its leadership role in the global fight against vision impairment and blindness. He emphasised the critical need for further investments in making public infrastructures accessible to visually impaired people, as well as to improve educational materials and digital literacy training. The foreign minister called for universal access to eye health services at a side event organised by the UN group of Friends of Vision in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda recently, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a message.  The event highlighted the need to address inequities in eye care access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Donald Lu’s visit: Dhaka’s call for withdrawing sanctions may come up for discussion, says Hasan Mahmud Hasan highlighted Bangladesh's leadership, together with Antigua and Barbuda and Ireland, in adopting the historic United Nations General Assembly Resolution on “Vision for Everyone,” in 2021 with the aim to improve global eye care for everyone.  Underscoring Bangladesh’s success under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said that the nation has made significant strides, having established 200 Community Eye Centres, with plans for an additional 250 by 2029.  "Our long-term plan is to provide basic eye care services through our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s flagship initiative of more than 14,500 community clinics," the foreign minister added. Bangladesh is one of the co-chairs of the United Nations Group of Friends on Vision.  This high-level side event was organised on the margin of the 4th international conference on the Small Island Developing States (SIDS4).  The foreign minister is leading the Bangladesh delegation at the conference.

The Russian House in Dhaka in cooperation with the Serov Academy of Fine Arts organised an annual cultural event dedicated to All-Russian Library Day. The All-Russian Day of Libraries has been officially celebrated in Russia on May 27 since 1995. On this day in 1795, Empress Catherine II approved the project of creating the Imperial Public Library (today the National Library of Russia) in St. Petersburg. Speaking of libraries, the words of V.G. Belinsky involuntarily come to mind: "Multiply your library, not in order to have many books, but in order to enlighten your mind, to educate your heart, to elevate your soul with the creative works of great geniuses." As part of the event, the Russia Today documentary “Universal Dostoevsky” Russian writer who united the world is a film that talks about how the world treats the work of Fyodor Dostoevsky, and also presents a video report about Moscow libraries. Library Day has a special meaning not only for people involved in this profession, but also for ordinary readers and connoisseurs of good books.

Babar Ali, who conquered the world’s highest peak Mount Everest a few days back, was accorded a reception at Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport upon his arrival from Nepal via Dhaka on Tuesday night. A festive atmosphere was prevailing in his birthplace Chattogram when the news of his return spread on social media. In an immediate reaction to the media, Babar said, "I had the confidence that after reaching the summits of Everest and Lhotse, I would return home. And that's what happened. Long training, effort and ambition—all have been fulfilled. I am delighted with the encouragement from the people of our country." Babar Ali was warmly welcomed at the Shah Amanat International Airport by the people of Chittagong around 10.15pm. Physician Babar Ali 6th Bangladeshi to conquer Mount Everest, eyes Mount Lhotse next Earlier in the evening, he had arrived at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Nepal and then headed towards his hometown Chattogram arriving later that night. However, his arrival was delayed from the expected time of 5:30pm due to adverse weather conditions in Nepal. Expedition coordinator Farhan Zaman said, "To honor the requests of Babar Ali's parents and well-wishers, we brought him back today instead of June 3." Babar Ali will hold a press briefing with journalists at 11am on Wednesday at the Alliance Française de Chattogram’s Chawkbazar. Moreover, on June 2, a celebratory bicycle rally will be held from Oxygen area to Shilpakala Academy in the city at 4pm. He will share his stories of conquering Everest and Lhotse at the district Shilpakala Academy from 6:30pm to 9pm. Last surviving member of the first team to conquer Mount Everest says it is crowded and dirty now Babar Ali reached the summit of Lhotse on May 21 at 6:05am local time. Prior to this, on May 19, he became the fifth Bangladeshi to conquer Mount Everest, reaching the peak at 8:45am. Babar, who completed his MBBS, did not settle into a medical career. He studied at Chittagong Medical College but left his job to embark on numerous travels around the world. He also has a distinct interest in cycling.

The cyclonic storm Remal has wreaked havoc across various areas of the coastal district of Bhola under Barishal division, leaving numerous homes destroyed and many families in dire condition, in need of urgent rehabilitation. The natural disaster has claimed the lives of three more people in Bhola due to incidents including building collapses and snake bites, bringing the local death toll to six. Moreover, a 5-kilometre embankment in Bhola has collapsed due to the cyclone's tidal surge. A barge used for dumping blocks and geo-bags into the Meghna River to prevent erosion has also sunk. Even after two days of the cyclone hitting, the weather is still adverse, with intermittent light to moderate rain since Tuesday morning. Locals said the 40-year-old Faruk was severely injured along with his wife when a large tree fell on their kitchen during the storm in Sadar upazila. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Faruk was declared dead. Similarly, Abu Saeed, 55, died while working in his garden during the storm, and Abul Kashem, 75, passed away after a tree fell on his house, causing him severe distress. Despite the official death toll of three reported by the district's relief and rehabilitation officer S.M. Delwar Hossain, locals claimed the number was actually six.  

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Antonio Domínguez Velasco is expected to come to Bangladesh tomorrow (Wednesday). Dominguez assumes his role as the 10th IMO Secretary-General, bringing with him more than three decades of experience serving the global maritime sector, across a spectrum of leadership roles of increasing scope and responsibility. Initially representing his native Panama, first within the Panama Maritime Authority and in his lattermost appointment as Ambassador of Panama to IMO, his affinity for building consensus saw him elected by his peers as Chair of several flagship IMO intergovernmental meetings, including the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the Technical Committee of the 29th Assembly, and the Maritime Security, Piracy and Armed Robbery Group, as well as a number of Vice-Chair and Board member roles. A naval architect at heart and by training, Dominguez gained his first degree from Veracruzana University, Mexico. Recognising from the outset of his career the importance of a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to the maritime sector, he later went on to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Hull, as well as an executive qualification in International Law and European Politics at Birkbeck University, both in the United Kingdom. This agile approach served him well in better understanding the priorities and navigating the needs of the different stakeholders across the maritime sector, and indeed the complexities of a specialized UN agency whose mission it is to support them. In 2017 Dominguez harnessed this extensive technical and diplomatic knowledge and experience as a delegate for the benefit of IMO. He joined the Organization, first as Chief of Staff, followed by Administrative Director - leading the Organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. Directly prior to his election in July 2023 as Secretary-General, he was the Director of the Marine Environment Division. His initial term as IMO Secretary-General, approved at the 33rd Assembly in December 2023, will be for a period of four years from 2024 to 2027.

A total of 4,407 cattle markets will be set up across the country on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday. “We have information that 4407 cattle markets will be set up in the country and the number is likely to increase,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting over the preparation of Eid-ul-Azha, held at the Secretariat. Makeshift police camps will be set up in the cattle markets while watch towers, fake note identification machines and veterinary physicians will be there, he said. Alongside Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), plainclothes police will also perform their duties at the cattle markets, he added. He also asked the cattle-laden vehicles to use the left side lane of the roads and refrain from the right side or middle point of the roads. All cattle-laden vehicles were asked to hang the banner of the designated cattle markets in front of the vehicle so that no one can take cattle forcibly on roads, he said. Besides, highway police will work in coordination with the district police to reduce traffic congestion on roads, highways and city areas during the Eid-ul-Azha. “Last year, we used drones to ease traffic congestion at important points  and this year too, we will use drones to reduce traffic congestion. We are gradually increasing modern technology to reduce traffic congestion including installing CCTV cameras on highways. Special arrangements will be made at the entrances of the capital,” he said. Meanwhile, speed guns will be used to control excessive speed on the highways to prevent accidents and legal action will be taken immediately against vehicles with excessive speed, he said. Referring to the excessive fare from the homebound vehicles, the minister said the fare will remain the same as it was in the last Eid and it will not increase. All kinds of goods-laden vehicles except perishable goods and passenger vehicles will remain off three days before and after the Eid-ul-Azha, he said. The garment owners have been asked to provide salary for the month of May before eid and a decision was taken to provide bonus before eid holidays, he added. Security measures will be taken at Eid congregation places across the country including National Eidgah Maidan and Solakia Maidan, he said. Asaduzzaman also said that the railway will introduce special cattle trains for transporting animals in the eastern and western regions. Movement of bulkheads, passenger-laden speedboats and small size launches will not be allowed to move at night, he said.  

The 8th Urban Dialogue, among the actors who are linked with urbanization, was held at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate building of Dhaka University on Tuesday (May 28). The daylong dialogue was jointly organized by Urban INGO Forum, a forum constituted with 20 national and International Non-Govt Development organisations, and Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience of Dhaka University. In the program, Dr A S M Maksud Kamal, Vice chancellor Of DU, presided over the program as a keynote speaker while Atiqul islam, mayor of Dhaka north city Corporation was present as chief guest. Dr. Liakath Ali, director of climate change programme at Brac, Manish Kumar Agarwal, country director of Concern worldwide, and Raihan Mahmood Kadery, Country Manager of Global one Bangladesh were also present as special guests at the program. While delivering the speech of keynote speaker, Prof. Maksud Kamal said, “Sustainable development is impossible without innovation. For sustainable innovations mutual collaboration, cooperation and partnership among concerned ones would be enhanced." Addressing the challenges of climate change researchers, stakeholders, city corporations, NGOs, public-private organizations and policy-makers, be called on all to work together for urban development in a planned way. “Climate change is a threat to mankind. Developing countries like Bangladesh and poor countries have badly been affected due to this," he added. Speaking as the chief guest, Mayor Atiqul Islam said, “Developing and poor countries have suffered immensely due to the corona epidemic, climate change and ongoing wars in different countries. Developed countries are mainly responsible for carbon emissions and climate change. They must take responsibility and give compensation to affected countries.” He urged city dwellers to be more conscious of protecting our environment and working collectively to face the challenges arising due to climate change.

 Speakers at a discussion meeting on Tuesday urged the government not to be misled by a campaign against genetically modified organism (GMO) foods. They said that crops created by GMO technology are often subjected to various criticisms and misinterpretations. But genetic technology provides various benefits ranging from increasing crop nutrients to suppressing harmful pests of crops without using much less pesticides and above all ensuring high yield in small land. Agriculture Biotechnology Coalition (ABC), Global South Hub, Farming Future Bangladesh and Alliance for Science organised the open discussion on “Conventional Misconceptions and Scientific Explanations of GMOs” at CIRDAP Auditorium in the city. Anwar Faruque, former Secretary of Agriculture and convener of the Agriculture Biotechnology Coalition said “GMO controversy is nothing new, but any misinformation can be multiplied in the current digital media age. “Various organizations are playing the role of propagandists here; I believe they have no clear scientific understanding of GMOs”, he said. BRAC University Professor Dr. Aparna Islam said, “GMO technology is a powerful medium that can be used to increase our food security and produce nutritious crops." However, it is important to be aware of the potential risks of this technology and take steps to address them, she opined. By discussing the environmental impacts of GMOs, we can use this technology responsibly so that it benefits everyone, she said. In view of the ban on commercial cultivation of golden rice and Bt brinjal by the judiciary in the Philippines and the disinformation activities of anti-GMO organizations in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Abdul Quader said, “It is very unfortunate that some people are commenting on GMOs based on misconceptions." Referring to the World Health Organisation, he said one in five preschool children suffers from vitamin A deficiency. Most of them are born in poor families and their families cannot afford to buy various types of vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin A in their daily diet in this high priced market. “In that case, the 'Vitamin-A' present in golden rice in the daily diet will be able to fill this deficiency. So I encourage everyone to know the real truth,” he added. Director General of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Dr. Md. Shahjahan Kabir said, Bri or its scientists speak on the basis of researched data, not on assumptions or emotions. BRI scientists have tested this rice for many years and have confirmed that it is completely safe for the human body, animals and the environment. Golden Rice is as safe as Brie Dhan29. The US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has tested this rice and said it is completely safe. The same has been said by organizations such as Health Canada and Food Standards Australia-New Zealand. No study or journal in the world has proven the environmental, health and other risks of GM crops, he noted. During the discussion, Research Director of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Dr. Md. Abdullah Yusuf Akhand, highlighted the need of Bt brinjal in the agricultural sector of Bangladesh. He said, “Bt brinjal has changed the lives of many farmers in the country by reducing the cost of pesticides." This reduced pesticide use by about fifty-one percent and improved their quality of life. For this reason, currently about sixty thousand farmers are cultivating this eggplant, he said.  

Bangladeshi applicants, while applying for an Italian work visa, can now submit their passport only after a visa decision is taken by the Embassy of Italy. "While applying for Italy work visa in Bangladesh, applicants will be required to submit passports only for scanning and photocopy," said VFS Global on Tuesday. Original passports will be returned to the applicants immediately, it said. Original passports will be requested again for visa issuance after the Embassy's decision.