United News of Bangladesh

Ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy has said despite “artificial obstacles” imposed by the West to hinder mutually beneficial relations with friendly states, Russia is determined to continue being a reliable partner to its allies, including Bangladesh. “Friendship between our countries goes a long way. We have no major unresolved political issues and have similar approaches to global challenges like terrorism, cybercrime, neo-colonialism, and climate change. Economic relations are thriving, with the energy sector being their backbone,” he said The Ambassador was speaking at the Russian Day reception on Wednesday evening. Oman lifts visa restrictions on 10 categories for Bangladeshi nationals He said the flagship project between the two countries is the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. “The physical start-up of Unit 1 is to take place before the end of this year.” June 12 marks the beginning of a new phase in Russia’s centuries-long history. Over the past 30 years, the Russian Federation has navigated through significant transformations, emerging as a truly sovereign country with resilient economy, a center in the evolving multipolar world order. The Russian envoy said the meetings of BRICS Foreign Ministers held on June 10 and 11 in the city of Nizhny Novgorod showed that these values are shared by many global stakeholders, including Bangladesh which, as an aspiring BRICS member, also attended the BRICS Plus meeting. The highlight of the evening was the concert "Power of Love, Power of Light" organized by “AtomStroyExport” company, Engineering Division of the Rosatom State Corporation. The Western Military District Ensemble of Song and Dance performed Russian patriotic songs and classical dances. US says it will remain Bangladesh’s steadfast partner in Rohingya refugee response Ambassador Mantytskiy explained to the audience the meaning of the holiday and outlined Russia's foreign policy principles. "The recent decades have revealed Russia’s genuine friends in the Global South and exposed hypocritical nature of the Western foreign policy that is full of double standards, non-compliance with obligations, deterrence and even blatant arm-twisting. Despite artificial obstacles imposed by the West to hinder mutually beneficial relations with friendly states, Russia is determined to continue being a reliable partner to its allies, including Bangladesh", added the Ambassador. Law Minister Anisul Huq attended the function as the chief guest. He remembered the time when the foundations of relations between Russia and Bangladesh were laid down, expressed gratitude to the Russian Federation and its people for extending a helping hand during the 1971 Liberation War and in the post-independence period. “In the last five decades, we have forged a robust partnership that encompasses many areas of bilateral cooperation, including science and technology, economy, trade, education and culture. We would like to see Russia as a reliable partner of Bangladesh on its development journey,” said the Minister. The Embassy also hosted an exhibition titled "Russia-UNESCO: 70 years of cooperation". Bangladesh requests Uzbekistan to establish direct air connectivity The selection of documentary photographs demonstrated the contribution Russia has made to the development of international cooperation in education, science and culture. The program also included an awards ceremony for the Bangladeshi winners of the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest 2023. Alexander Mantytskiy presented to Ziaul Huque and Abdul Momin certificates for the second and third places, respectively. Among the guests of the evening were members of the diplomatic corps, Bangladesh Parliament, military top brass, government officials, businessmen, cultural figures, politicians, media people, and Russian compatriots.  

The Omani Embassy in Dhaka has announced that the Sultanate of Oman has lifted temporary restrictions on 10 visa categories for Bangladeshi nationals. According to a note from the embassy, the exempted visa categories now include official visas, family visas, visitor visas for Bangladeshi nationals living in GCC countries, and visas for engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants, investors, and high-income tourists. The note also mentioned that the local embassy will now receive and process all applications and related documents for these categories in coordination with the Royal Omani Police. Furthermore, the embassy assured that both Omani and Bangladeshi authorities are working towards lifting the ban on work visas, a process that is currently in progress. The temporary ban on all visa categories, except for official purposes, was imposed by the Royal Omani Police in October 2023 to review Oman's overall migration policy.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Deputy Representative in Bangladesh Dia Sanou on Wednesday said the hazards of unsafe food can be prevented by proper handling of food, better hygiene practices, and better storage. "We need to work together to ensure food safety and security for the people of Bangladesh," Dia said. FAO provides guidance on developing and implementing proper and effective standards and build national capacity for food quality control to ensure food is safe to eat. It officially celebrated the World Food Safety Day in Bangladesh by organizing a roundtable discussion and youth engagement program in Dhaka. Representatives from various government bodies including Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Department of Agriculture Extension, Department of Agricultural Marketing, Department of Fisheries, Director General of Health Services, as well as private companies, donors, partners and universities participated in the workshop. Nur Khondaker, Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and Sonia Mehzabeen, UNV Programme Coordinator in Bangladesh also participated in the event. Sonia Mehzabeen, UNV Programme Coordinator in Bangladesh, said food safety is a concern that touches every one of them, regardless of age or background. "However, it is the youth, with their innovative spirit, boundless energy, and passion for a better world, who hold immense potential in driving significant advancements in this critical domain.” 7th June, World Food Safety Day is celebrated to raise awareness and draw attention of the importance of food safety and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, export of agrifood commodities, tourism and sustainable development. The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization (WHO) jointly facilitate the observance of the annual commemoration of the World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations. This year’s theme “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected” draws attention to food safety incidents. It underlines the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents, no matter how mild or severe they can be. It also calls upon individual and collective reflection on what can be done to ensure everyone has access to safe food, even when life becomes unpredictable. Discussions on food safety challenges The event started with a roundtable discussion about the main food safety challenges in Bangladesh. The session created an opportunity to discuss necessary policy and capacity development steps to improve food safety together with experts, trainers and resource persons who are involved in the food safety and pesticides management in Bangladesh. The event delved into the implication of pesticides used on food safety, challenges to human health and the environment, and solutions to be found in alternatives to pesticides. Celebrating the creativity of youth As part of the event, winners of the FAO’s Interuniversity Film and Photography Competition were also recognized and awarded. Participants from numerous universities submitted short films, animations, and photo stories centered around FAO’s Four Betters – Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and Better Life. The finalists included students from the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh , Daffodil International University , Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Md. Nafis Fuad Auyon and Laiba Jannat from Daffodil International University were crowned champions for their short, animated film titled “Bilin.”

Global Fund and Stop TB Partnership want to include Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in their coalition of leaders and champion of global fund. Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands and Stop TB Partnership Executive Director Dr Lucica Ditiu made the plea while calling on her at her official residence Ganabhaban. PM’s press secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed the reporters after the meeting. He said that Indian Prime Minister Norendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are in the lists of their coalition of leaders. Tarique and 14 other convicts in grenade attack case are fugitives: PM He mentioned that these two organisations basically work in Bangladesh on TB, HIV and Malaria and its funding. “They wanted to expand and deepen their relations with Bangladesh,” he added.  He said they wanted that PM Hasina would utilise her contacts and networks with the world leaders for fund mobilisation for them. Nayeemul said that both the executive directors said that the in depth knowledge of the prime minister regarding TB, HIV and Malaria is amazing. He mentioned that the malaria in Bangladesh except hilly areas are under control and the HIV situation of Bangladesh is also under control. “They sill showcase these achievements of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said. They invited the prime minister to attend an event of them in the coming days. What Dr Yunus is saying is untrue, offensive: Law Minister “If you come the success stories of Bangladesh would be showcased in the world arena. And by this the demand of Bangladesh will be strengthened,” Nayeemul quoted them as telling the PM. They mentioned that Bangladesh has registered these successes already and if some more assistance Bangladesh gets then they attain more success to reach the final target which is the elimination these diseases.  Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands and Stop TB Partnership Executive Director Dr Lucica Ditiu claimed that every year some 40,000 people died in Bangladesh due to TB related issues. Nayeemul said that the prime minister differed with the number and asked the health ministry officials to check it. The health ministry officials said that as per their data some 26,000 to 27,000 people of the country die of TB every year in the country. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked for a survey to figure out the death figures due to TB,” Khan said. Global Fund will support Bangladesh in this regard.  They will also help Bangladesh to conduct Mobile diagnostics development in the country with the AI inducted hi-tech X-ray machine for quicker identification of the TB. PM’s press secretary mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the executive directors put emphasis on the continuation of the efforts to contain HIV related issues of the country. “We must not stop our efforts to face the HIV related issues although Bangladesh is doing very well regarding the issue. This must not create self complacency, which could bring bad news,” they agreed. Sheikh Hasina said that the awareness programme will must continue more strongly so that bangladesh’s achievement could not affected and put the country better position. Every village to be brought under civic amenities: PM Hasina Malnutrition and cleanliness should have to continue to fight against TB, she said. They are very keen to build the success further and ready to secure funding for Bangladesh, Nayeemul Islam khan said. Regarding the community clinic issue, the prime minister briefly described the activities and how it is helping the rural community people. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen, State Minister for Health Rokeya Sultana and PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, among others, were present The Global Fund is a worldwide partnership to defeat HIV, TB and malaria and ensure a healthier, safer, more equitable future for all.  They raise and invest more than US$5 billion a year to fight the deadliest infectious diseases, challenge the injustice that fuels them, and strengthen health systems and pandemic preparedness in more than 100 of the hardest hit countries.  In 2022, the Global Fund disbursed a record US$5.2 billion to fight HIV, TB and malaria, support COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) activities and strengthen the systems for health that underpin any pandemic response.  They unite world leaders, communities, civil society, health workers and the private sector to find solutions that have the most impact, and take them to scale worldwide. The Stop TB Partnership is a hosted entity of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), with its Secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland. Established in 2000, the Partnership aligns 1,600 partner organizations.

Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed urged Japanese investors to invest in special and other Economic Zones of Bangladesh as Bangladesh has offered fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to foreign investors. Shahabuddin Ahmed came up with the call while speaking at a seminar on ‘Investment opportunities in economic zones in Bangladesh’ held at the Seminar Hall of JETRO Headquarter, Tokyo on Wednesday, said a press release. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) jointly organized the seminar. The ambassador also encouraged representatives of Japanese companies to visit Bangladesh by the Biman Bangladesh Airlines direct flight and physically experience the investment environment in Bangladesh. Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) Shaikh Yusuf Harun was present at the seminar. BEZA Executive Chairman Shaikh Yusuf Harun shared BEZA’s initiatives to establish 100 economic zones with aims to create 10 million jobs in Bangladesh. He expressed BEZA’s intention to further improve the investment scenario through exchange of views with concerned parties. Executive Vice President of JETRO Mayumi Murayama addressed her view on visits to Bangladesh and mentioned Japanese companies have opportunities for business and investment in Bangladesh. Chiharu Tagawa, Managing Director of Bangladesh Special Economic Zone, gave an introduction on BSEZ, which is a joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation, BEZA and JICA. Lion Corporation, an investor company in BSEZ, also shared their business experiences in Bangladesh. JETRO Dhaka Country Representative Yuji Ando in his speech mentioned that the Bangladesh economy has been solid even under the global volatile economic situation and there are huge opportunities for Japanese companies for business and investment. The seminar was attended by more than 200 participants from Japanese companies.

The United States has said it will continue to advocate with countries in the region, and at the United Nations, for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Myanmar so that the Rohingyas and others displaced by the violence can safely return home. "Until that day arrives, however, Bangladesh should know that the United States will remain a steadfast partner in the Rohingya refugee humanitarian response," said Regional Refugee Coordinator at the US Embassy, Mackenzie Rowe, during a small group briefing at the American Centre on Wednesday. Responding to a question from UNB, she said they have been working with many international partners to respond to this regional crisis since 2017. The regional refugee coordinator said whatever happens within the camps and affects humanitarian assistance is a concern for them. “Any issue within the camps that would affect humanitarian assistance is always a concern. We want to make sure that our assistance gets to those who are most in need. And we are certainly working with our partners, and others who are concerned to hopefully address this with all partners who wish to work with us,” she elaborated. Responding to a question on the accountability front, Rowe said accountability for human rights abuses is an essential foundation for building a democratic society characterized by the rule of law. She said that the United States remains committed to leading the international effort to hold those responsible for human rights abuses against civilians accountable. The US is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the region. Total US funding for the crisis has reached nearly USD 2.4 billion since August 2017, when more than 740,000 Rohingyas fled from genocide, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. "Of that total, the United States has contributed nearly USD 1.9 billion to support refugees and host communities in Bangladesh alone," Rowe said. She underscored that Bangladesh does not stand alone. "The United States, along with many other governments, UN agencies, and NGOs are partnering with you to help Bangladesh assist the Rohingya refugees," she added. Rowe said the international community, including the United States, thanks the people and government of Bangladesh for generously hosting refugees until they can safely and voluntarily return to their homeland. “It is fitting that ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20, we take time to acknowledge the plight of those who had been forced to flee their homes because of violence and persecution,” she said. The US official said their contributions provide life-saving assistance and protection, including access to education and training opportunities that help Rohingyas develop skills to support a voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return to Myanmar when conditions allow; strengthening disaster preparedness across the Cox’s Bazar region; and expanding access to healthcare and clean water for Rohingyas and host communities. Rowe said they are willing to work with their partners and with the government of Bangladesh to hopefully find a positive way forward. Responding to a question on resettlement efforts, she said the US President has again set an ambitious goal of resettling 125,000 refugees in the United States for FY 2024. “So it's not just Bangladesh, it's globally. And we are hopeful that we will reach that target. And then we'll have to wait until September when the new target is set,” the US official said, adding that currently, there are about 12 to 13 thousand Rohingyas in the United States who have been resettled throughout the region. “And we hope to see that number grow over time,” she added. Rowe said the ultimate goal is hopefully to see their return to homeland when conditions allow for a voluntary, sustainable, dignified, and safe return. “As I said before, the United States is committed to working with other donors, the international community, UN agencies, NGOs and the Bangladesh government to assist the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh until the conditions in Myanmar allow for their safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return,” she said. Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.3 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

Citing Bangladesh as one of the most vulnerable countries against climate change, Social Welfare Minister Dr Dipu Moni has shared how climate change has been affecting the growth of Bangladesh both directly and indirectly.  Speaking at the BRICS ministerial meeting, she confidently declared that with a growing middle-class and sustainably growing economy, Bangladesh has many things to offer to BRICS.  She expressed an optimistic feeling that the existing relations among BRICS nations will deepen in the coming days, and Bangladesh joining BRICS will usher in a new era of cooperation.  The meeting of the BRICS Minister of Foreign Affairs/ International Relations was held from June 10 to 11 in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Students will be assessed based on their skills in the new curriculum: Dipu Moni On the second day of the meeting, a ministerial session titled “BRICS Dialogue with the Developing Countries” was chaired by Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. It was attended by a high-level Bangladesh delegation led by Dr Dipu Moni. Kamrul Ahsan, Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia, and Wahida Ahmed, Director General, International Organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were part of the delegation In her statement, the minister highlighted the remarkable socio-economic development that Bangladesh achieved in the last one and half decades under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She discussed how, from a predominantly agro-based country, Bangladesh has transformed itself as one of the fastest growing economies in the world.  Bangladesh, China to work together to push relations to a new height, says Dipu Moni Besides Bangladesh, a few other invited countries and the 10 BRICS member states attended the second day’s programme.  The meeting ended with the hope that BRICS would usher in a new and sustainable economic order, and the expansion of the organization would add further momentum to it.

Bangladesh has requested Uzbekistan to establish Uzbek Diplomatic Mission in Dhaka and to establish direct air connectivity between the two countries not only to intensify business and investment engagements, but also to bring tangible results in the fields of culture, tourism and people to people contact. Highlighting the historical, cultural and spiritual ties shared by the people of Bangladesh and Uzbekistan, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has emphasized on the broadening of the horizon of cooperation, accommodating new areas, such as education, employment and capacity building. The issues were discussed at the third round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan held at Tashkent on Tuesday. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhromjon Aloyev led their respective sides at the Foreign Office Consultations. Putin arrives in Uzbekistan on the 3rd foreign trip of his new term Additional Foreign Secretary Shah Ahmed Shafi and Bangladesh Ambassador to Uzbekistan Mohammad Monirul Islam also participated in the FOC as members of Bangladesh delegation. The whole spectrum of bilateral cooperation between the two countries was discussed during the consultations. Both sides particularly emphasized the exchange of high-level political visits for further strengthening bilateral relations.Both sides urged to establish more business links and undertake joint ventures in the field of textile, pharmaceutical, and agricultural products, amongst others. They emphasized people to people contact through tourism and cultural cooperation. The first Deputy Minister of Uzbekistan expressed his readiness to work together on the issues raised by the Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) in order to inject new momentum into bilateral cooperation. He conveyed his government’s determination and commitments to fostering deeper and outcome oriented collaborations with Bangladesh. He appreciated Bangladesh’s active involvement in the international stage on the issues of global and regional significance. Cabinet okays draft agreement for flight operations with Uzbekistan Both sides shared their perspectives on the situations in Myanmar, Russia-Ukraine war, and the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary also paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan. During the call, he handed over a letter from Foreign Minister of Bangladesh addressed to the Uzbek Foreign Minister inviting him to visit Bangladesh. The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan also stressed the importance of exchange of high-level visits between the countries. Following the Foreign Office Consultations, a MoU between the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh and the Diplomatic Academy of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy of Uzbekistan was signed.Both sides have agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.      

Newly elected President of Bangladesh Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BPCCI) Humayun Rashid and Vice President Imran Ahmed have met Leo Tito L. Ausan, Jr, the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Bangladesh. The meeting took place at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Bangladesh on Monday. During the meeting, on behalf of the newly elected committee, Humayun Rashid and Imran Ahmed exchanged ideas on effective trade strategies, explored promising business opportunities, and discussed potential challenges that may arise. The BPCCI President and Vice President also presented their organization’s goals for the years 2024 and 2025, emphasizing their commitment to fostering stronger economic ties between Bangladesh and the Philippines. The meeting was a productive exchange, laying the groundwork for future collaborations and partnerships between the two countries, said a media release on Tuesday. Both parties expressed their enthusiasm for exploring new opportunities and strengthening existing trade relations. BPCCI is the leading platform to promote trade, commerce, and bilateral exchanges between the two fastest-growing economies of the world – Bangladesh and the Philippines. Established in 2013, BPCCI strives to march towards shared prosperity under a list of objectives to foster economic cooperation and enhance cultural understanding between the two nations.

The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNICEF officially announced the launch of the "Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS): Round 7 (2024-2025)" in Bangladesh. MICS is a household survey to collect essential data on children and women, gathering critical evidence on their lives and access to essential services. The survey is an important source of data for national authorities to guide them in formulating policies, plans, and programmes to respond to their needs. Among some of the new features of this round, MICS will collect data on blood lead levels (BLL), heavy metals, micronutrients, and anaemia for the first time in Bangladesh. This is vital as environmental health risks significantly impact children's health, with nearly one in three deaths among children under five being preventable by addressing these risks. BBS and UNICEF have collaborated for decades to conduct MICS surveys. The first MICS in Bangladesh was launched 30 years ago, and subsequent rounds have significantly contributed to improving the lives of women and children in the country. This wealth of data has been a game changer for achieving children's rights, and the work developed by UNICEF, policymakers, the government, and partners.  State Minister for Planning Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker congratulated BBS and UNICEF for initiating the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey that will provide accurate information on the needs of children and disadvantaged women in our country, allowing us to address data gaps on the Sustainable Development Goals and enable effective planning and implementation through timely data. The upcoming MICS will include nearly 200 health, nutrition, water, sanitation, education, and child protection indicators. These data points are crucial for monitoring progress toward achieving the ambitious UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and evaluating the 8th Five-Year Plan 2020-2025.During the launch, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, Sheldon Yett said, "UNICEF is proud to collaborate with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to conduct the next round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, a critical source of data on the fulfilment of rights and wellbeing of children in this country.” The survey will be conducted nationwide, including the two main city corporations of Dhaka North and Dhaka South with a separate component that will cover issues facing the Rohingya refugee population in the country. Detailed survey plans, budgets, and questionnaires will be finalised in collaboration with BBS. MICS survey is generously supported by The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The World Bank.