United News of Bangladesh

Tiger Golf Club (TGC), a known organization among foreign expats, diplomats, and local golf enthusiasts, has hosted a dinner and get-together at a restaurant in Dhaka on Friday. The evening saw the gracious presence of 11 ambassadors and High Commissioners who are members of the TGC, extending their warm wishes and camaraderie. The event also marked a heartfelt welcome to new club members, supported by EduQuest, an education consultancy firm, said a media release on Saturday. During the gathering, the club exemplified its commitment to social responsibility by contributing Tk 1 lakh towards the education of marginalized ball boys. Speaking at the event,  Heru Hartanto Subolo, Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh and President of TGC, along with Alternate President Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, underscored the club's role in fostering international ties and community welfare. Brig. General Md Manzur Qader (Retd), Vice President of TGC, emphasized the club's dedication to not only golf but also to impactful social initiatives, particularly benefiting underserved communities. He also outlined the club's upcoming plans, including an anticipated tour to Brunei in November. Distinguished attendees included Syed Mustafizur Rahman, Treasurer of TGC, Ajay Pratap Singh of India and also the executive member of the club. The evening was further enriched with intermittent flute music, special golf arrangements for lady guests, and a raffle draw, adding a vibrant touch to the event. Among the envoys, Haznah Md. Hashim (High Commissioner of Malaysia), Ramis Sen (Turkish Ambassador), Ghanshyam Bhandari (Nepal Ambassador), Nguyen Manh Cuong (Vietnamese Ambassador), Leo Tito L. Ausan Jr. (Philippines Ambassador), Park Young-sik (South Korean Ambassador), Kyaw Soe Moe (Myanmar Ambassador), Haji Haris bin Othman (High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam), and Sheela Pillai (Head of Mission of the Singapore Embassy) were present. Established in 2009-10, the Tiger Golf Club has become a cherished gathering point for its diverse membership, fostering enduring memories of Bangladesh and its vibrant golfing culture.

The Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) held its meeting in Paris from June 25 to 28, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. At the Paris meeting, budgetary provisions were made for several key activities: the GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System) Regional Alliance for the Indian Ocean, building community resilience in the Indian Ocean, IOCINDIO governance and coordination, IOCINDIO capacity development, and IOCINDIO ocean literacy. During this session, the achievements of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO) were prominently highlighted. Since its establishment in 1982, IOCINDIO has been working under IOC, focusing on various scientific research areas such as ocean temperature, ocean observation, ocean weather, and coastal vulnerability. In June 2021, Secretary of the Maritime Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral Md. Khurshed Alam (Retd) was elected as Chair of IOCINDIO from Bangladesh. Under his leadership, the committee conducted eleven meetings with various member states and stakeholders. These efforts culminated in the successful passage of a resolution to upgrade the committee to a subcommission for the Indian Ocean, which was approved by the IOC Assembly in June 2023. While IOCINDIO was the only committee dedicated to the Indian Ocean, other regions like the Pacific, Caribbean, and African coasts have sub-commissions under the IOC. The IOCINDIO Sub-Commission comprises eleven member states: Bangladesh, France, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka, with Iran and the UAE serving as Vice Chairs. Following this upgrade, Rear Admiral Md. Khurshed Alam (Retd) was re-elected as Chair of the IOCINDIO. He has since submitted several proposals to the IOC aimed at enhancing research on the Indian Ocean, one of the least explored oceans in the world.

India has presented an “outline of an action plan” for the next two years, focusing on key priorities and initiatives to further strengthen the Colombo Process. India chaired its first meeting as Chair of the Colombo Process at the Permanent Representative level-meeting in Geneva on June 28 at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Headquarters. The Secretariat of the Colombo Process is hosted by IOM with its headquarters in Geneva. Muktesh Pardeshi, Secretary (CPV and OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, delivered the special address as the incoming Chair-in-Office. He emphasised India’s commitment to advancing the objectives of the Colombo Process and enhancing collaboration among member states, said the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday. India’s priorities for Colombo Process (2024-26) include (a) Reviewing the financial sustainability of the Colombo Process, (b) Broadening the membership by including new member states and observers,(c) Reconfiguring technical-level collaborations,(d) Implementing a structured rotation for the chairmanship,(e) Conducting a regional review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) and (f) Engaging in dialogues with the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) and other regional processes.  

Bangladesh and India are working together to enhance connectivity and take it to a higher level – both physical and digital in several ways, says a senior official at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The initiatives are being taken so that the two countries can strengthen their trade connections, people-to-people connections, and several other projects that they are doing together and bring the relationship to a higher level, he said. “We both countries are working together to enhance connectivity to a higher level,” spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi on Friday during a weekly media briefing. Regarding rail connectivity, a journalist wanted to know whether there will be any convenience fee or some monetary matters involved and whether there will be any paramilitary or security forces deployed when the trains will be passing by those territories. In reply, the MEA spokesperson said, “As far as your questions on fees, on security aspects, these are very technical questions. These will be addressed as and when they come up for discussion in the technical committee and between the two governments.” During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s two-day state visit to New Delhi on June 21-22, Bangladesh and India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for railway connectivity. The MoU for railway was on the connectivity between the two railways. Earlier, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said connectivity continues to remain one of the central pillars of India-Bangladesh partnership. “We believe that connectivity can transform geographical proximity into new economic opportunities, not just between India and Bangladesh, but also for the entire region,” he said while briefing the media after the state visit. In this respect, he said, they are starting a new passenger train service between Rajshahi and Kolkata while trial run for a goods train on Bangladesh railway from a place called Gede-Darshana to Haldibari-Chilahati cross-border interchange point is planned for next month sometime. “This will also help sub-regional connectivity with Bhutan,” said the Indian Foreign Secretary, adding that There are already about six cross-border railway links but besides the importance of cross-border railway linkages, Kwatra said. Another crucial aspect of this railway connectivity is the transit that they afford between different parts of India through the territory of Bangladesh and the discussions today focused on that, he said. “So it's effectively a connectivity paradigm that actually benefits both the countries, both the societies, both the economies very, very extensively,” Kwatra said.

Bangladesh and India have discussed ways for fostering cooperation, enhancing efficiency, and advancing shared goals in customs administration so as to strengthen collective efforts in customs enforcement, trade facilitation, and border security. The 7th commissioner-level Bangladesh-India joint group of customs meeting was held at Shillong on June 27-28. The four-member Bangladesh delegation was led by Md. Kamruzzaman, Commissioner, Customs, Excise & VAT Commissionerate, Jashore, while the 10-member Indian delegation was led by M Rahman, Commissioner of Customs Preventive Commissionerate, NER, Shillong. Following the meeting, many pending issues at ground level were resolved, and many other issues were highlighted to be escalated at higher-level appropriate forums, thereby leading to the resolution of many customs and trade related issues, said the Press Information Bureau of India. The Bangladesh head of delegation expressed gratitude to the Indian Customs for organising the meeting and making the deliberations result oriented. Approved minutes were signed after both sides reached a consensus on several key issues relating to bilateral trade and customs procedures. This meeting, therefore, marks a significant milestone in the bilateral relations between Indian & Bangladesh, emphasizing our shared commitment to enhancing trade facilitation and cooperation between both nations. Such constructive dialogue and partnership is essential to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of cross-border trade and promote economic growth and prosperity. The decision to regularly hold Commissioner level meetings between India and Bangladesh was agreed in the 5th Joint Group of Customs Meeting held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on the 23rd of February, 2009.

Regarding the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty beyond 2026, the Indian External Affairs Ministry on Friday said    a communication was received from West Bengal on 5 April 2024 indicating its drinking water and industrial water requirements for inclusion in the Treaty beyond 2026. This requirement was reiterated by the representative from West Bengal, who participated in the last meeting of the Committee held on 31 May, 2024. The required preparatory work for renewal of the Treaty was therefore conducted by the Indian Ministry of Water Resources in consultation with the stakeholders, including the State Government of West Bengal, according to MEA. In the next step,the ministry formed a Joint Technical Committee to initiate discussions between India and Bangladesh on renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty. Bangladesh and India signed a Treaty on December 12, 1996 for sharing of the Ganga/Ganges waters (which is measured) at the Farakka barrage during the lean season. This Treaty is valid for thirty years and therefore due for renewal in 2026. An internal committee was constituted by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on July 24, 2023, for carrying out an internal review of the Treaty. Concerned stakeholders include the Govt. of Bihar as well as West Bengal, whose representatives have been included as members in this Committee. The Government of West Bengal nominated their representative to the Committee on 25 August 2023. The internal committee has held four meetings so far: on 22 August 2023, 30 October 2023, 15 March 2024, and 31 May 2024. It submitted its final report on 14 June 2024, which is under examination by the Ministry of Water Resources. The Government of West Bengal has been represented by either the Joint Secretary, Irrigation & Waterways Department or by the Chief Engineer (Design & Research), Irrigation and Waterways Department in three of the four meetings, i.e. the Govt. of West Bengal representative participated in all three meetings held after nomination was received.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Portugal Rezina Ahmed presented her credentials to the President of the Republic of Cape Verde Dr. José Maria Pereira Neves in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde on June 27 as the fourth non-resident Ambassador of Bangladesh to that country with residence in Lisbon. In an audience after the ceremony, the President warmly congratulated Bangladesh Ambassador on presentation of the credentials and wished her a pleasant stay in Praia. The President highly appreciated the initiatives taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the socio-economic development and institutionalization of democracy in the country. The President expressed satisfaction on the existing bilateral relations between the two countries particularly in the multilateral fora. He stressed on the need for furthering cooperation in trade and investment. He expected that during the Ambassador’s tenure new areas of cooperation would be identified to strengthen the relations between the two countries. In turn, Ambassador Rezina Ahmed also stressed on the need to increase bilateral trade and ensured her readiness to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cape Verde closely in this regard. She appreciated the support of the Government of Cape Verde in the recent election for the membership of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the term 2025-2027. She also thanked the Government of Cape Verde for the continued support for the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has reiterated the commitment and readiness of Bangladesh to contribute to the work of the UN Police meaningfully. He was speaking at the high-level session of the Fourth UN Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2024) at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday. The home minister was the first speaker at the main session in the morning entitled “Novel Approaches to Peace Operations and Potential Domains of Conflict”. He highlighted the need for deployment of context-oriented and targeted specialized policing skills in the peacekeeping missions considering the evolving context and changing scenario. Khan also emphasised extending support to the host states’ rule of law and security institutions and capacities from the very beginning of the Peacekeeping Missions. He urged for prioritizing the transition and exit strategies. Bangladesh continues support for UN peacekeeping agenda: Momen He also expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to contribute with more female peacekeepers to promote gender-responsive policing in the host state. Referring to Bangladesh’s contribution to strengthen UN’s efforts in countering misinformation and disinformation against peacekeepers, he underscores the importance of utilizing artificial intelligence in the work of UN Peacekeeping as well as the need for responsible use of such technologies.  

Irish Aid has approved an allocation of €148,170 to support victims of Cyclone Remal in Bangladesh. The funds will be channeled through Plan International under the Acute Crisis Stream (ACS) of Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP). Cyclone Remal struck Bangladesh on May 26, impacting approximately 4.6 million people across coastal districts. Of them, 3.3 million people have been severely affected, with 173,866 homes either partially or fully destroyed. The affected communities are grappling with severe water shortages, food insecurity, power outages, and disrupted communication services. EU ramps up Cyclone Remal emergency response with additional assistance worth €700,000 The Irish Aid-funded project, set to be implemented by Plan International from July 1 to November 1, 2024, will provide essential Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services to around 3,440 individuals from 800 households that have been completely destroyed in the Bhola and Barguna districts. The intervention aims to ensure access to safe drinking water, restore sanitation facilities, and distribute hygiene materials. Irish Aid's Commitment to Global Crises Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership for A Better World (ICSP) is a five-year funding initiative (2023-2027) designed to support Irish civil society organizations in delivering long-term development and humanitarian aid worldwide. The ICSP encompasses four funding streams: long-term development, chronic humanitarian crises, acute humanitarian crises, and global citizenship education. In 2024, approximately €100 million is allocated to ten Irish NGOs, including €9.9 million dedicated to climate finance. Continued Support for Bangladesh Bangladesh has endured multiple humanitarian crises, including the Rohingya refugee influx. Since 2019, Ireland has provided €6.5 million to UNHCR for the Rohingya crisis, benefiting both refugees and local communities. In 2023, Concern Worldwide allocated €1,561,508 for resilience-building programs in Cox's Bazar, focusing on nutrition and disaster risk reduction. This commitment continues into 2024 with an increased allocation of €1,704,000. 20 dead, Tk 7482 crore loss incurred due to Cyclone Remal: State Minister for Disaster Management Plan International Ireland, established in 2003, aligns its efforts with Ireland's foreign policy priorities, particularly in promoting gender equality, reducing humanitarian needs, and fostering good governance.

Chattogram Customs seized a container of foreign cigarettes imported under false declarations at Chattogram port on Thursday. The cigarettes were imported by a Dhaka-based company Hamko Corporation, under the guise of water filters, according to customs officials. A.K.M. Khairul Bashar, deputy commissioner (DC) of the Customs House, said acting on a tipped-off a 20-foot container that arrived at Chattogram port at 1:30pm on Wednesday was detained. 2 arrested with foreign cigarettes, gold bars at Ctg airport Later, Audit, Investigation and Research (AIR) branch of the Customs House found 2,500 cartons of Monde cigarettes after physical test of the container around 12am on Thursday midnight, he said. The importer Hamko Corporation opened an LC from The City Bank Limited and imported the goods from Asian Global Company Limited in Bangkok to Chattogram port. The container was transported on a vessel named 'KOTA ANGGUN', he said. Foreign cigarettes, liquor seized from ‘Bandhan Express’ train in Benapole Bashar informed that after completing the process, they will determine the amount of revenue that was attempted to be evaded. The illegal import of these cigarettes was an attempt to disrupt local production of foreign cigarettes. Therefore, legal action will be taken against those involved.