Bangladesh has sought immediate steps on Myanmar by the UN Security Council asking Myanmar to refrain from escalating the situation and targeting the Rohingya minorities in the pretext of security operation.

Bangladesh also urged the UNSC to remind Myanmar of their responsibility to protect its civilian populations during any military or security operations.

Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN in New York shared the "aide memoire" with the UNSC President on recent developments near the international border between Bangladesh and Myanmar on September 15, according to the communication.

The UNSC president has been requested to bring the issue to the attention of the Council members mentioning that Bangladesh expresses "deep concern" over the incidents, an official in Dhaka to UNB wishing to remain unnamed.

Massive movements of troops, particularly in civilian boats, without prior notice to the authorities concerned of Bangladesh may cause misunderstanding leading to untoward incidents in the international border between Bangladesh and Myanmar, Bangladesh mentioned in the letter sent to the UNSC president.

During the period of June 2020 to September 10, around 35 incidents of significant firing were reported at different locations near the international border between Bangladesh and Myanmar, Bangladesh said.

In the early evening of September 11, around "1000 Myanmar army troops landed" in different locations in Northern Maungdaw near the international border between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

On September 10, four Myanmar Navy ships anchored off the coast of Inn Din Village and disembarked the troops, according to the letter.

The troops were then carried overnight by about 20 civilian fishing boats along the Naf River, it reads.

The route used during the said mobilisation of forces was as close as 200 metres to the international border between the two countries at least in one point, it mentioned.

Bangladesh also mentioned about "cleansing operation" conducted overnight during September 13/14 and in the backdrop of mounting violence in Rakhine and Chin States inflicting civilian casualties.

Bangladesh said failure to ensure the protection of civilians and their properties during the security operations may lead to further influx of Myanmar citizens and residents of various ethnic background to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh stressed that any security operation should be undertaken with extreme care and dexterity with full respect to State responsibility of Myanmar to protect its civilian population.

On June 04, 2020, between 3pm to 5:15pm, Myanmar military and Border Guard Police conducted joint operation supported by military helicopter at around 500 yards inside Myanmar from the international boundary near BP 35.

The operation was carried out without giving prior information to Bangladesh.

"The growing incidents of firing and clashes on the Myanmar side near the international border pose a threat to peace and stability in the border areas," the aide memoire said.

In the view above, Bangladesh demands immediate withdrawal of the troops deployed in areas close to the borders.

In a separate letter to Naypyidaw on September 14, Dhaka also called on Myanmar to immediately withdraw the troops and respect its commitment regarding exchange of information about any civilian and military activities near the international border.

Bangladesh said such efforts by Myanmar may undermine the efforts of both governments to maintain peace and stability in the bordering areas and promote friendly relations between the two neighbours.

Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe and protested the visible movement of Myanmar military very close to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

The Myanmar Ambassador was summoned to the office of Director General (DG-Myanmar Wing) Md. Delwar Hossain.

Bangladesh noticed suspicious movements of Myanmar military forces on fishing trawlers close to the maritime international border since Friday.

The Bangladesh side asked Myanmar to stop such suspicious movements so that no misunderstanding takes place between the two countries.

Such movements of the military along the international border might create panic among Rohingyas living on both sides of the border, sources said.

Bangladesh remains vigilant along the border with Myanmar and it sees no scope for any untoward incident.

Myanmar did not inform Bangladesh beforehand about such deployment though there is a practice to share with neighbouring countries.

The national election in Myanmar is approaching and there are always changes internally ahead of any election and this might be part of this.

On the situation in Rakhine more broadly, it is now more than three years since over 700,000 Rohingyas were forcibly displaced from their homes to Bangladesh because of violence perpetrated by the Myanmar military.

Also read: No scope for untoward incident along border: Shahriar

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) on Monday began an online fellowship programme on strengthening and building the capacity of Roads & Highways Department (RHD) officials focusing on road maintenance and management system.

The programme will continue until September 29, KOICA said.

This third year country-focused fellowship programme was launched in 2019 with total beneficiaries of 36 officials from RTHD and RHD aiming to promote Roads Maintenance and Management system in Bangladesh.

Through this online training, Republic of Korea’s Road & Transportation Policies, Engineering approach for highway safety and bridge design, construction and maintenance will be addressed.

Especially, Korea Expressway Corporation will organize virtual field visits to important sites and offices in Republic of Korea for better understanding of Korea’s strategies.

The RTHD and RHD officials will develop a Country Action Plan for Road Maintenance and Management System in Bangladesh in consultation by Korean experts.

For the smooth implementation of the training, KOICA has provided learning devices such as Samsung Notebooks for better access in the online learning environment.

Young-Ah Doh, County Director of KOICA, said the transportation sector is the one of Korea’s development priority areas for Bangladesh.

KOICA is about to finance US$ 8.9 million from 2020 to 2023 to an upcoming project titled “Improving the Reliability and Safety in National Highway Corridors of Bangladesh by Introduction of ITS (Intelligent Transport System).”

Through this comprehensive support from Republic of Korea, it is believed that Bangladesh can develop a Road & Safety Masterplan along with establishment of an effective road management system which will reduce time and accidents for much-needed improved road conditions in the country.

Also read: KOICA strengthens occupational safety of Bangladesh

Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI) Omar Sadat has said a BGCCI business delegation will visit Germany early next year and plans are afoot  to hold a 'German Trade Fair' in May 2021.

He sought support from the newly appointed Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan to make the visit useful and productive and to invite German companies to participate in the trade fair.

The BGCCI President informed there is vast potential to diversify and increase export to Germany despite the present pandemic.

The bilateral chamber arranged a farewell discussion on Saturday and discussed Bangladesh-Germany trade and investment issues.

The event was attended by leading business houses of Germany namely Siemens, Linde, Tchibo, Kuehne+Nagel, AMANN and the leading Bangladesh RMG exporters to Germany.

Germany is the second largest export destination of Bangladesh RMG, leather goods and home textile.

Last year over US$5 billion was exported to Germany. The import to Bangladesh was over US$ 1 billion from Germany mainly heavy machinery and industrial chemicals, said the BGCCI on Sunday.

Ambassador Mosharraf informed the business representatives that he would work on improving and strengthening trade and commercial ties with Germany.

The visit of business delegation from BGCCI will be useful to interact with counterparts and various chambers in Germany, he said.

He also informed that he had productive meeting with the German Ambassador recently also the German Embassy is working to forge a better business relationship with Bangladesh.

Germany is one of the important destinations for Bangladeshi products and Germany’s political commitment is encouraging.

Germany is providing financial and food assistance to Rohingya people.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar's mother Sulochana Subrahmanyam.

In a condolence message, Dr Momen said he prayed to Almighty so that Jaishankar and his family members get the strength to bear the pain.

Dr Momen conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members and sought salvation of the departed soul.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday informed about the demise of his mother. She was reportedly in her 80s.

Jaishankar shared a picture of his mother on his social media account.

"Deeply grieved to inform of the passing away today of my mother Sulochana Subrahmanyam. We ask her friends and well-wishers to keep her in their thoughts. Our family is especially grateful to all those who supported her during her illness," he said.

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Momen, Jaishankar talk over phone; virtual JCC this month

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have recommited to accelerating health and well-being at all ages.

New partnership calls for key actions in universal health coverage, mental health, emergencies and nutrition.

The new Strategic Collaboration Framework builds on a robust 70-year collaboration between the two organizations, and prioritizes four strategic areas for immediate attention and action at all levels of the organizations: universal health coverage, through a primary health care and health systems approach; mental health and psychosocial well-being and development; public health emergencies; and maternal and child nutrition.

Additionally, the two organizations signed a new Joint Programme on Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being and Development of Children and Adolescents.

This 10-year collaborative effort will promote mental health and psychosocial well-being and development, increase access to care for mental health conditions, and reduce suffering and enhance quality of life among children and adolescents, and their caregivers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed huge gaps in accessing health, well-being and nutrition services among children and vulnerable populations,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.

“There has never been a more urgent need to work together. This new framework will help us strengthen health and food systems, and invest in mental health and psychosocial support in every country in the world.”

For more than 70 years, WHO and UNICEF have worked together worldwide to ensure children survive and thrive, and benefit from a safe and clean environment.

The two organizations collaborated to provide high-impact health, immunization, nutrition, HIV and early child development interventions, as well as safe water and sanitation services in every region of the world, including in fragile and conflict settings.

"At the heart of our work with UNICEF is seeing that every child not only survives but ultimately thrives and transforms their communities and future generations," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

"With great appreciation and respect for our unique and complementary roles, we stand together in our commitment to achieve health for all. As this pandemic demonstrates, no-one is safe until everyone is safe.”

WHO and UNICEF continue to work together to stop the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that every woman and every child have access to the essential health services they need, including immunizations and health check-ups.

The two organizations are also working together to support countries to introduce and deliver COVID-19 vaccines under the vaccines pillar of the “Access to COVID-19 Tools – Accelerator” (ACT-A) initiative, along with Gavi, CEPI and global immunization partners.

Additionally, the organizations are strengthening health systems through primary health care, as agreed in the Declaration of Astana, and the UN High-level declaration on UHC, in order to accelerate achievement of universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets by 2030.