United News of Bangladesh

Migrant workers face several psychological problems that start from leaving their home country and in their destination countries in addition to experiencing diverse challenges that make them more vulnerable to the development of psychological problems, according to a latest study. “Different factors, such as incidents occurred abroad, after coming back to home, and social perception towards returnees contributed to the development of diverse psychological problems,” says the study conducted by Brac and released on Wednesday. After coming back from abroad, returnees experienced different incidents like financial crisis, relationship conflict with family members, separation and divorce, mentions the study titled, ‘Measuring the Effectiveness of Psycho-social Counseling Services on the Lives of Returnee Migrant Workers: An assessment’. This study was led by Prof Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Dhaka and Director of Nasirullah Psychotherapy Unit. The research has been done under the 'Reintegration of Migrant Workers in Bangladesh' project with the help of Switzerland. "We have talked to expatriates and seen that migrants suffer from mental crisis due to specific reasons such as loneliness, physical and mental abuse, loss of job, not getting proper salary. But like everyone else in Bangladesh, expatriates do not give importance to mental health,” he said. He went on saying, “But we have seen people who have taken or received counseling services become more confident quickly. Especially women have recovered faster than men.” For reintegration of migrants, BRAC Migration Programme has been providing immediate assistance, psychosocial, social and economic reintegration support. Other Major findings: • Different factors, such as incidents occurred abroad, after coming back to home, and social perception towards returnees contributed to the development of diverse psychological problems. • There was a significant impact of Psychological Support Services (PSS) on the lives of returnees in reducing severity level of the psychological problems they encountered. In addition, it was found that woman participants responded better after receiving psychosocial support compared to their male counterparts. • The common but frequent psychological reactions for returnees are: annoyed, helplessness, trauma, suicidal behavior, sleep disturbance, anger, feeling shattered, sad mood, mind blanking, mental stress, hopelessness, worry, guilt feeling, emotion dysregulation, fear of negative comments and mistrusting people. • The returnees were able to develop coping mechanisms to deal with their psychological reactions. It includes: distraction through self-talk, neglecting negative comments, relying on life-partner, following religious rituals, being active in daily chores, focusing on comments by family, accepting the barriers and not recalling painful memories. • There is absent or inadequate resources/setup for providing counseling services locally. Moreover, Inadequate MH professionals and insufficient MH research in Bangladesh particularly on returnee/migrant workers mental health were found as one of barriers to execute PSS activities. • The application WHO-5 well-being index scale for pre- and post-psychosocial intervention is recommended. Major Recommendations: • Advocacy for mental health support for migrant workers needs to be initiated from the destination countries. • Instill psychosocial support services (PSS) for returnee migrant workers and trafficking survivors in reintegration policy of government. • Sharing mental health (MH) models with other relevant department of BRAC and stakeholders. • Embedding mental health in strategic plan not only for returnee migrants, but for all community members who are at risk of developing mental health problems. • Recruit trained mental health professionals rather than fresh graduates. Fresh graduates can be recruited if trained professionals are not available. • Continuation of assessment and evaluation against care-providers’ skills and demand, and organising trainings based on the assessment and evaluation reports. • Continuation of Clinical Supervision for both groups and individual counsellors. That will prevent counsellors burn out issues and ensure continuous professional development. • Awareness programme directed at changing social perception against the returnees, especially women returnees.

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin has pledged stronger partnership with the United Nations (UN) and the broader international community in realizing a “peaceful, inclusive and resilient” Bangladesh, in the spirit of student-mass-led “July-August Revolution”. The Foreign Secretary made the remarks on Wednesday while delivering statements in the second and first committee of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, currently being held in New York. In his remarks in the second committee, the Foreign Secretary highlighted the need to address contemporary challenges, such as conflicts, financial crises, inflation, rising commodity prices, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss, and promote measures to ensure growth and resilience in the world. To safeguard present and future generations, he urged for comprehensive reform of the global financial system, ensuring strong climate action; addressing illicit financial flows; equipping young people with quality education and digital skills for youth-driven solutions; and maintaining peace as an essential foundation for resilience and sustainability. In the first committee, the Foreign Secretary called upon all States to work collectively for total elimination of nuclear weapons and to promote a culture of peace against a culture of war and violence, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later, he held a bilateral meeting with Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Khaled Khiari. During the meeting both sides highlighted the longstanding partnership between Bangladesh and the UN in a wide range of areas. ASG Khiari commended Bangladesh’s contribution in UN peace operations and expressed the UN’s keenness to continue it. He recognized Bangladesh’s leadership in extending cooperation to other countries, such as, The Gambia and Peru in peacekeeping. The Foreign Secretary briefed the ASG about the measures taken by the interim Government in various fields and solicited UN’s support to Bangladesh in this important trajectory. They also discussed enhanced cooperation in the fields of human rights, development and rule of law.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday praised Russia’s cooperation in the power and energy sectors and acknowledged Russia’s role as a supplier of wheat and fertiliser to Bangladesh. These issues were discussed when Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander V Mantytskiy paid a farewell call on the Chief Adviser at his Tejgaon office. He said that the interim government would resolve the payment issues over the Rooppur project and welcomed further Russian investment in Bangladesh. “We will work together.” During the meeting, Mantytskiy focused on his eventful time during his over three-year tenure as the Ambassador of the Russian Federation. He updated the Chief Adviser on the progress of the Rooppur nuclear power plant, which is expected to generate power next year. Read: Seventh batch of uranium for RNPP arrives in Rooppur amid tight security The plant is primarily funded by Russia and its experts are implementing the project. Russia’s state-run company Gazprom’s exploration activities in Bangladesh, Russian exports of wheat and fertiliser and repayment of the debt for the Rooppur plant were also discussed during the meeting, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and Head of SDG Affairs, and Md Abul Hasan Mridha, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were also present during the meeting. Read more: Russia assures Bangladesh of successful completion of Rooppur plant

The United States has said it looks forward to continued engagement with Bangladesh to advance progress on economic stability, democracy, security, and Rohingya refugees. "The Secretary (Antony Blinken) did have a productive meeting with the advisor to the interim government (Prof Muhammad Yunus) and looks forward to continued engagement to advance progress on all of these issues," US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said on October 8. He made the remark when a journalist wanted to know how the Biden administration is navigating its relationship with Bangladesh considering the country’s challenges with economic stability, democracy, security, and Rohingya refugees. "So we continue to work with the Government of Bangladesh on all those questions," Miller said in a regular media briefing in Washington. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus had separate meetings with US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly recently in New York. Read: Those responsible for recent rights violations in Bangladesh need to be held accountable: US Both President Biden and Chief Adviser Prof Yunus affirmed the close partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, which is rooted in shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties. During the meeting, Biden welcomed further engagement between the two governments and offered continued US support as Bangladesh implements its new reform agenda. Asked whether the US discussed anything about Bangladesh with India, Miller said, "I can tell you that regional issues, including Bangladesh, often come up in our meetings with the Government of India, but I don’t have any specific readout to offer." Read more: Nahid promises justice, compensation for victims of minority abuse

Bangladesh has reiterated its unwavering commitment to general and complete disarmament, a prerequisite for international peace and security. Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin made the call at the first committee of the United Nations General Assembly on October 8. Bangladesh called for resolute collective actions against persistent nuclear threats and underlines the inalienable rights of all states to peaceful use of nuclear energy for agriculture, healthcare and power generation. Bangladesh also called upon member states to harness artificial-intelligence for peace, not conflict, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The foreign secretary also made statements at the second committee of UNGA79. He highlighted the need to chart specific actions to deliver "Pact of theFuture," comprehensive reform of the global financial system, including sovereign debt architecture, strong Climate Actions, addressing illicit financial flows, and resilience through economic diversification, youth driven solutions, technological investment and human capital development.

The United States has called for holding those responsible for human rights violations in the recent months in Bangladesh accountable. "And (we) made clear that we want to see human rights protected, and that ultimately those responsible for violations of the human rights of the Bangladeshi people over the past few months need to be held accountable," said US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller. He made the remarks when a journalist wanted to know about the incidents of "mob violence and lynching" in Bangladesh and how does the US government viewed the protection of human rights in Bangladesh during a regular media briefing in Washington on October 7. Read: Nahid promises justice, compensation for victims of minority abuse "I can’t speak to these individual cases that you mentioned, but I can tell you that the Secretary met with the prime minister (Chief Adviser) of Bangladesh just two weeks ago at the UN General Assembly in New York," Miller said. Responding to a question on Durga Puja and minority issues, the spokesperson said they, of course, want to see the rights of minorities protected in Bangladesh as all around the world. The government has already announced an additional public holiday on Thursday (October 10) for Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community. Read more: UN fact-finding team calls for submissions on human rights violations during July-August 2024 protests The Durga Puja holiday will now last four days, starting from Thursday

The ‘Global Fund Emergency Response for Bangladesh’, in collaboration with the government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), has launched a three-day training programme for the newly recruited staff operating the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants. The event, started on Tuesday, is a key step in preparing Bangladesh's healthcare facilities to tackle future health crises by strengthening the oxygen therapy capacity within the country. This project, led by the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), is enhancing Bangladesh’s healthcare system by constructing 29 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants. Managed by UNOPS and funded by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM), the project aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure by providing medical-grade oxygen and improving resilience to emergencies. Under the project, 29 nationwide hospitals are receiving newly constructed PSA oxygen plants which are providing medical-grade oxygen on-site, essential equipment, and strengthened power solutions. The training includes both theoretical and practical components covering plant construction, equipment operation, safety protocols, and hands-on on-site experience. The participants will be equipped with critical skills to operationalize and maintain the PSA plants, ensuring long-term sustainability of the project, said the UN agency dedicated to implementing humanitarian and development projects. Dr Sheikh Daud Adnan, Line Director, CDC, and Director of Disease Control, DGHS said this initiative is a transformative step in enhancing our healthcare system's capacity to respond to critical emergencies. “By equipping 29 hospitals with the capacity to generate oxygen on-site, we safeguard our future and strengthen our national healthcare infrastructure,” he said. Dr Adnan recognised the invaluable contributions of UNOPS, the Global Fund, and partners in implementing this project. “To the trainees, you are leading this mission. The skills you gain will enable you to operate these plants effectively, ensuring they are always ready to save lives. Your dedication is vital to the long-term success of this initiative, and I trust in your ability to uphold this responsibility,” he highlighted. Infiyaz Hyder, Project Manager, UNOPS Bangladesh, said, "Our mission is not only to construct PSA plants but to ensure their long-term sustainability through comprehensive capacity building training for dedicated staff and site operators.” “Together with the government of Bangladesh, we are enhancing the ability of hospitals to respond rapidly and effectively to medical emergencies, saving lives in the process,” he said.

A protest rally was held on Monday in front of the Broken Chair monument near the United Nations Human Rights Council headquarters in Geneva. The Switzerland Awami League-led by the All-European Awami League organised the rally. Following the rally, a memorandum was submitted to Volker Turk, the head of the Human Rights Council. An official from the Council’s headquarters received the memorandum on Turk’s behalf. The memorandum was submitted by All-European Awami League President M Nazrul Islam, General Secretary Mojibur Rahman, Switzerland Awami League President Jamadar Nazrul Islam, and General Secretary Shyamal Khan. They urged Human Rights Council to put pressure on what the Awami League described as ‘illegitimate forces’ in Bangladesh. The document demanded an end to human rights violations, including the arrest, torture and killing of minorities, as well as Awami League leaders and activists. It also called for the withdrawal of false cases against party leaders, including Awami League President Sheikh Hasina. The memorandum urged the UN Human Rights Council to properly investigate crimes against humanity in Bangladesh and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. During the rally, leaders expressed concern for their families in Bangladesh, despite living in different European countries. Many of our family members have been killed in Bangladesh, arrested without cause, and our properties have been looted. We are deeply concerned, they stated.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said the government is not sure about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s whereabouts though they checked in New Delhi and the United Arab Emirates. “We could not be sure about her position. We inquired in Delhi and the United Arab Emirates. Nobody could confirm us,” he told reporters, adding that like the media they have also seen claims of her travel to the UAE. Referring to the media, he said she is possibly in Ajman but they have not been successful in their attempts to reconfirm it. “As far as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is concerned, I told you that we don't have an update on her plans. It is for her to take things forward,” official spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi in August second week. Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has clearly stated in his suo motu statement in Parliament that the approval for former Prime Minister Hasina to come to India was given at a short notice. Responding to a question, adviser Hossain said Bangladesh Mission can only issue a travel pass to come to Bangladesh, not for going to other countries. “It’s a one-way trip to Bangladesh.” During his UNGA visit, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be extradited and brought to justice if she committed crimes. "Why shouldn't be? If she committed crimes, she should be extradited and brought to justice… she should be facing justice, too," he said while responding to a question at "The New York Times Climate Forward Event." Referring to Hasina, Law Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul recently said Bangladesh will definitely seek extradition of any convicted person under the extradition treaty with India once trials begin. “We have an extradition treaty with India. As per the extradition treaty, if any convicted person stays in India, we can seek his or her extradition. We will soon let you know through the Law Ministry,” he told reporters while responding to a question at a media briefing in Dhaka. Sheikh Hasina, who left the country on August 5, is facing hundreds of cases.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday hoped that Italian visa seekers’ demand for the quick issuance of visas would be resolved peacefully but warned of negative consequences if too much pressure is imposed on Italian authorities. “If they feel threatened amid immense pressure, fear remains that they may drop us from the programme under which they are giving visas to take people legally. We hope there will be a peaceful solution,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a delegation of Italian visa seekers met him at his office. Dhaka highlights importance of resuming regular visa processing by India The adviser said he conveyed this message to the delegation members citing the likely impacts of programmes like processions, rallies and cordoning office physically. “It is their sovereign right whether they will issue a visa or not. We can’t say why you didn’t give the visa. This can’t be asked,” Hossain said. He said the government knew the visa seekers' positions and they tried to convey to them what the government is doing and what they can do to expedite the process. The foreign adviser said around 20,000 cases got stuck for long as the progress is slow and the government is urging to clear those cases by December this year. On September 9, amid visa seekers' peaceful demonstration demanding quick delivery of passports with visas, the Italian Embassy in Dhaka said applicants were warned against submitting forged or false documents. The Italian Embassy said they are committed to working with Bangladesh authorities and in partnership with the European Union (EU) for actively preventing irregular flows and promoting legal pathways. A bilateral agreement has been proposed to further improve collaboration in migration and mobility issues, which they hope will soon be finalised. The Embassy assured of its commitment to increasing the output of processed applications and presented some initiatives undertaken to that end with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, including the creation of a dedicated taskforce. Applicants were reassured that their ‘nulla osta’ will not expire once they have lodged the application or requested an appointment to do so. The nulla osta is the document issued by Italian immigration authorities which authorises a non-EU national to apply for a work visa at the Italian embassy/consulate in their country of residence.   During the meeting, the Embassy provided legal, technical and logistic explanations for the existing delays in the processing of working visas to Italy. The visa seekers also wanted to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to place their demands for addressing the issue. Corruption and the production of false or forged documents or statements are serious crimes under both the Italian and Bangladeshi laws, which the Italian Embassy is committed to contrast together with the concerned Bangladeshi authorities, said the Embassy.