United News of Bangladesh

Md. Jashim Uddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to China, is going to be the next Foreign Secretary, a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB on Tuesday night. The envoy has already been asked to return to Dhaka leaving his current responsibilities. He is a career diplomat and obtained Bachelor in Social Science (Honours) and Masters in Social Sciences in International Relations from the University of Dhaka. He obtained an MA Degree in Modern International Studies from University of Leeds, UK. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen is the current Foreign Secretary on a contractual appointment. Ambassador Jashim Uddin also attended a yearlong course at the National Defence College in Dhaka. Joining Bangladesh Foreign Service in April 1994, he served in different capacities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka and Bangladesh Missions abroad. Ambassador Jashim Uddin served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC and as Deputy High Commissioner at Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad. He also served at Bangladesh Missions in New Delhi and Tokyo. In 2018 for rendering innovative and efficient consular services, under his leadership Bangladesh Embassy in Athens, Greece received Public Administration Award from the Hon. Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Before his appointment as Bangladesh Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, he was his country’s Ambassador to the state of Qatar from 2020-2022 and to the Hellenic Republic (Greece) from 2015-2020 with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Malta and the Republic of Armenia. Ambassador Uddin is also concurrently accredited to Mongolia.  At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka he held various responsibilities including Director General (South Asia) and Director General (East Asia and Pacific). Uddin represented Bangladesh as part of his country’s delegations in different bilateral meetings.

The German development cooperation, in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, has announced an upcoming training and stakeholder engagement initiative as part of the Sustainability in the Textile Sector (STILE II) project. To identify topics for this initiative, fourteen organizations and service providers were invited to participate in a competition. The event was held at a hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday. The initiative aims to prepare relevant governmental and private sector organizations and individuals for the upcoming and existing sustainability regulations from the European Union and their potential effect for suppliers in Bangladesh. Relevant topics included Sustainability Reporting, Risk Management, Traceability, Digital Product Passport, Decarbonization, Circular Design, Extended Producer Responsibility, Chemicals Management, Due Diligence, and Energy Efficiency. The European Union Delegation, as well as the Danish Trade Council, participated as members of the jury and provided relevant inputs. Ulrich Kleppmann, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Dhaka opened the session referring to the relevance of anticipating impacts of the EU sustainability standards. While the teams presented their ideas in many creative ways, the event not only aimed to engage but also empower stakeholders to integrate these essential sustainability practices into their operations, thereby fostering a more resilient and environmentally conscious textile sector in Bangladesh. The Programme for Sustainability in the Textile Sector II (STILE-II) supports the implementation of measures to modernize Bangladesh’s textile and RMG industry in line with the sustainability requirements of the EU.

Congratulating interim government Chief Adviser Prof Yunus, Russia has reiterated its commitment to constructive joint work at the governmental level to strengthen trade and economic, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian interaction. “This fully meets the interests of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of Bangladesh,” said Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in a congratulatory message to Prof Yunus. On behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation and on his own behalf, Mishustin congratulated Prof Yunus upon the appointment to the post of the Head of the interim government which will perform the functions of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh until next parliamentary elections. He said the Bangladesh-Russia relations have been developing in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect, according to the Russian Embassy in Dhaka. Mishustin wished Prof Yunus sound health, well-being and success in his responsible activities.

Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has written to interim government chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, noting that she looks forward to “working closely” with Prof Yunus in maintaining and strengthening the multilateral trading system. “At the WTO, we are working on several pressing trade issues, and I look forward to working closely with you in maintaining and strengthening the multilateral trading system,” said the WTO DG in her letter congratulating Prof Yunus on his appointment as Chief Adviser of the interim government. Chief Adviser’s  press wing shared the letter on Tuesday. She said Prof Yunus’ premiership comes at a time of increasing geopolitical tensions and also of challenging times for Bangladesh. “I am convinced that under your leadership, stability and prosperity will prevail,” said Dr Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General. As a core participant in the multilateral trading system, she said, Bangladesh has enjoyed the benefits of global trade and has always been a strong supporter to the WTO. “I will always have very good memories of the times when we worked closely together at the Board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation,” said the Director General.

The government of the Republic of Korea will provide USD 10 million in 2024 as humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s bazar and Bhasan Char. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Dhaka on Tuesday said this year's humanitarian assistance will be provided through international organizations in Bangladesh such as UNHCR, IOM, WFP, and UNFPA. Since 2017, South Korea has continued to provide USD 3 to 5 million annually to help the Rohingyas and their host communities in Bangladesh in close cooperation with Bangladeshi government and international organizations. This year’s funding has more than tripled compared to the previous year’s funding, and it is the largest amount throughout the period of humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. In addition, the first rice donation of 15,000 MT sufficient for one million Rohingyas for 1.5 months was made, which further increases this year’s total amount of humanitarian assistance.  Korea's funding has been used up for various humanitarian activities over the seven years, including the provision of LPG, education and food in support of the Joint Response Plan (JRP). This year, funding for empowering Rohingya women and youth through UNFPA has been newly added to our support for humanitarian activities. The Embassy hoped this funding from the Republic of Korea will contribute to the implementation of the Joint Response Plan 2024 and the provision of the essential humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.    

Climate change is increasingly impacting mental health and psychosocial well-being, the World Health Organization said calling on member countries in South-East Asia Region to strengthen mental health systems and services to address this growing challenge. “Climate change exacerbates many social, environmental, and economic risk factors for mental health and psychosocial well-being. Among WHO regions, South-East Asia is most vulnerable to this,” said Saima Wazed, Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia, in her opening remarks at a regional workshop for ‘Strengthening capacity of countries to address the impact of climate change on mental health’, held in Ball, Indonesia from 12 – 14 August. The WHO Regional Director said that in many countries significant gaps exist between mental health needs and the availability and accessibility of mental health systems and services. The increase in mental health and psychosocial problems from climate change is putting an extra burden on the health system. “There is a large gap in both knowledge of, and response to, climate change’s impact on mental health…There is an evident need to bring together climate and mental health officials from member states to ensure accelerated action to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts and prevent further widening of this gap,” she said. Even without climate change, mental health situation is challenging. In the region, an estimated 260 million people live with a mental health condition and more than 200,000 people die by suicide every year, she said. The Regional Director emphasized on five key WHO approaches for strengthening mental health. First, integrate climate change considerations into policies and programs for mental health, including mental health and psychosocial support system (MHPSS), to better prepare for and respond to the climate crisis. Second, integrate MHPSS within policies and programs dealing with climate change and health. Third, countries in the region must build upon the global commitments. Fourth, multi-sectoral and community-based approaches to reduce vulnerabilities and address the mental health and psychosocial impacts of climate change and lastly, addressing the large gaps in funding for mental health and for responding to the health impacts of climate change. The Action Plan for Mental Health in the WHO South-East Asia Region provides an array of options to expand and strengthen user-oriented community mental health services.   It also advocates for updating policies and laws in line with international human rights instruments, to strengthen leadership and governance for mental health. Earlier, in 2017 the WHO South-East Asia Region adopted the Malé Declaration and the Framework for action for building health systems resilience to climate change,  acknowledging the importance of human, technical and financial resources to address this issue. In 2022, countries in the Region endorsed the Paro Declaration on universal access to people-centered mental health care and services, committing to ensuring an effective and comprehensive response to mental health needs. This included establishing evidence-based and rights-oriented community mental health networks, and deinstitutionalization of care for people with severe mental disorders. It also included combating stigma and discrimination against people with mental disorders, as well as their families and caregivers, through community empowerment and active engagement of people with lived experience.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has written a letter to Interim Government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, reiterating that the United Nations fully supports his government's efforts towards an "inclusive and prosperous democracy." He said the UN remains committed to working with the Prof Yunus-led interim Government and to extend support, as may be requested, including through the Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team, for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh. Chief Adviser's press wing shared the letter on Monday night. The UN chief conveyed his best wishes on Prof Yunus's assumption of responsibilities as the Chief Adviser of the interim Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. "I welcome efforts to restore calm and to organize parliamentary elections in Bangladesh," Guterres said. During this transitional period, the UN chief said Prof Yunus' leadership will be crucial in bringing an end to the violence, ensuring accountability, restoring law and order and in charting a course towards democratic elections. "It is my hope that your Government will take an inclusive approach, including by taking into account the voices of the youths and women, as well as that of minority and Indigenous communities," he said. Guterres said he counts on the interim Government of Bangladesh to ensure the full protection of all citizens and, in particular, of minorities. "I also strongly urge you to ensure the well-being of Rohingya refugees, especially in view of the deteriorating situation in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar," he said. Bangladesh stands at a crucial juncture in its history, Guterres said.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke met with Law Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul on Sunday and discussed issues of priorities. They discussed the interim government’s commitment to protect and promote fundamental rights and freedoms. The two sides also discussed Asif Nazrul's priorities to help chart the pathway to an inclusive, democratic future for Bangladesh, according to the British High Commission in Dhaka.

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said he looks forward to working closely with Bangladesh Interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the coming days on all matters of mutual interest, both in bilateral and multilateral domains. "I believe we need to actively explore ways to enhance regional cooperation, which is vital for the socio-economic development of the people of South Asia," he said in a letter to Prof Yunus. The letter was shared by Chief Adviser's office on Monday. Pakistan wants to develop robust relations with Bangladesh that can serve the interests of the people of the two countries. "We earnestly desire to develop robust bilateral relations with Bangladesh that can serve the interests of our two peoples and bring about a meaningful change in their lives," the Pakistan PM said. Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan highly values its relations with Bangladesh as a brotherly Muslim country and a partner in South Asia.

Acting Ambassador of the European Union Dr Bernd Spanier has said the European Union will do its utmost to support the interim government in turning its vision into a reality. "EU stands ready to help," he said after meeting interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a diplomatic briefing at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday. "Great privilege to see Prof Yunus today during a meeting with the diplomatic corps," the diplomat said in a brief message shared through X, previously known as Twitter. In his address to Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Professor Yunus said a new era has begun as the students impressed upon them their dream of a country where people, regardless of their political, religious or ethnic identity, will be able to fulfill their aspirations and enjoy full freedom of expression, with the government upholding democracy, justice and human rights and freedom of speech. Meanwhile, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli said he was delighted to briefly meet Prof Yunus at the diplomatic event today. During the event, Prof Yunus addressed the priorities, opportunities and challenges facing the interim government. "We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Bangladesh in its quest for peace, prosperity, and economic empowerment for all its citizens," said the Ambassador.