United News of Bangladesh

The first round of negotiations for the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was held in Dhaka from May 19 to 23. The meeting was attended by, on the Japanese side, Taketani Atsushi, Ambassador in charge of Economic Diplomacy, Deputy Director-General, Economic Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from other relevant ministries. On the Bangladesh side, Dr Ahmad Munirus Saleheen, Chairman of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, and representatives from relevant ministries were present. In this round of negotiation, both sides exchanged their views on the method of negotiations and on a broad range of areas such as trade in goods, rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, investment, electronic commerce and intellectual property. Japan to send team next week for negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreement Both sides decided to work on scheduling the dates of the second round of negotiations through diplomatic channels, said the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka. On May 19, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori participated in the opening session of the negotiation with Ahasanul Islam Titu, State Minister for Commerce, Md Selim Uddin, new Secretary to Ministry of Commerce, Dr. Ahmad Munirus Saleheen, Chairman of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission and Chief negotiator of Bangladesh side. S Korea highlights importance of Economic Partnership Agreement with Bangladesh Earlier, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud expressed hope that an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would be concluded to get Japanese financial concessions by 2026 when Bangladesh will be graduated from LDC status. He thanked Japan for sending the trade negotiating team for the negotiations on the proposed EPA. Bangladesh considering Economic Partnership Agreement with S Korea to boost trade, investment: FM

Bir Bahadur Rai, who left his home in Ilam, Nepal, some four decades ago, and has been living in Bangladesh for about 40 years, returned home on Thursday afternoon. He was handed over to his family members by the Embassy officials. "We thank all those who supported Rai during his stay in Bangladesh, brought his case to the notice of the Embassy, and followed up consistently for his repatriation," said the Nepalese Embassy in Dhaka. "We also thank the government authorities of both Nepal and Bangladesh for their prompt and positive response in the lead up to his successful repatriation," it said.

The United Nations has said it follows a three-step screening process when deploying troops in the peacekeeping missions to meet the highest standards of efficiency and integrity, including respect for and commitment to human rights.  “Look, there are three parts to the screening. One thing involves self-certification; the other one involves the certification by the sending country, and obviously, there’s a procedure also by the High Commissioner’s Office for Human Rights,” Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, told a regular briefing at the UN headquarters in New York on May 22. He made the remarks when Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, former assistant press secretary to the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, drew his attention to the DW documentary on UN missions.  “Yes, we’ve seen the documentary and our colleagues in the peacekeeping department have been interacting and gave a statement to the producers,” said the spokesman. Momen to attend UN peacekeeping ministerial in Ghana on Dec 5-6 He restated that the Secretariat is committed to deploying personnel that meet the highest standards of efficiency and integrity, including respect for and commitment to human rights, and has established the relevant procedures and mechanisms under the policy on human rights screening of UN personnel. Over the years, Stephane said, there have been cases where they were informed of allegations of past human rights violations committed by uniformed personnel, from a small number of countries, deployed in peacekeeping missions.   “When such cases occur, our peacekeeping colleagues take appropriate action in accordance with their screening policy and other relevant frameworks, including in consultation with troop-contributing countries,” he said. And sometimes it can result in uniformed personnel not being deployed or even being repatriated by the UN if allegations are substantiated, said the spokesman.  Ansarey has been referred to by the foreign minister as someone “paid by BNP” to ask questions purposefully for generating negative responses. Bangladesh highlights its contribution to UN Peacekeeping “There’s someone who used to work for Khaleda Zia's press wing. He is paid by BNP. He asks questions purposefully to try and get negative answers about Bangladesh. He asks questions intentionally," Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters recently, apparently referring to his activities in the US State Department briefings. Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to peacekeeping operations. Since 1988, 188,558 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have participated in 63 UN missions in 40 countries, and 7,436 uniformed personnel are currently serving in 13 countries. The UN appreciates Bangladesh for its “steadfast and remarkable contribution” to peacekeeping operations over the years.  Bangladesh has pledged to increase rates of female troop participation in line with the 2019 National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and the United Nations stands ready to help Bangladesh meet its commitments to ensure more diversity.

Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Indra Mani Pandey has underscored the significance of the entry into force of the BIMSTEC Charter, hoping that it would usher in a new era of cooperation in the region. He is on a visit to Nepal from May 19,  said the BIMSTEC Secretariat on Thursday. Nepal is one of the seven member States of BIMSTEC, a land of magnificent mountains, lakes and valleys and a multi-religious and multi-cultural nation. During the visit, the Secretary General called President of Nepal Ramchandra Paudel on May 21, at the Presidential Palace, Shital Niwas and acquainted him with the present state of regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region within the BIMSTEC framework. While highlighting Nepal’s significant contributions to enhancing regional cooperation, the President underscored the importance of BIMSTEC as the forum which links the mountain ecosystem of the Himalayas with the marine ecosystem of the Bay of Bengal. Later, the same day, the Secretary General called on Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachandra’ in Singha Durbar, and solicited Nepal’s continued support in strengthening regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region through BIMSTEC. The Prime Minister, recalling his participation in the Retreat of BIMSTEC Leaders hosted in Goa in 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, emphasised the important role that BIMSTEC can play in the realisation of peace, security and prosperity of the member States, and reiterated the full commitment of the Government of Nepal towards steering BIMSTEC towards new heights. He hoped the upcoming Summit would add new vigour to regional cooperation within BIMSTEC. Earlier, the same day, the Secretary General called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, and reviewed with him the present state of cooperation within the BIMSTEC,  the way forward, and the vital role of Nepal within BIMSTEC. The Minister underlined the need to implement the decisions taken in the past by BIMSTEC Leaders. Minster for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang, the Secretary General discussed the imperative and the significance of Nepal’s vital role, as the Lead member State, in strengthening regional cooperation in important areas of culture, tourism as well as poverty alleviation and people-to-people contact. The Secretary General called on the Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal; Secretary for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation,  Sushil Chandra Tiwari; and Secretary for Home Affairs, Eaknarayan Aryal. Besides the official meetings, the Secretary General delivered the keynote address on the theme ‘Harnessing Regional Synergies for Development and Prosperity in BIMSTEC Region’ organised by the Centre for Economic Development and Administration (CEDA) in Tribhuvan University. The event was attended by eminent persons, diplomats, scholars, researchers, students, and the media.  The Secretary General also visited various cultural sites in and around the Kathmandu Valley.

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Thomas Andrews on Thursday appealed to the government of Bangladesh to “reverse its closed border policy” and demonstrate their humanitarian support for the Rohingya once again though Bangladesh is already overburdened with 1.3 million Rohingyas. “Once again, Bangladesh’s generosity may be their only hope as large groups of Rohingya are forcibly displaced and move towards the border,” said US-origin UN expert. The Special Rapporteur warned however that Bangladesh does not have the capacity to meet the demands of this crisis without the emergency intervention and support of the international community. Bangladesh, Australia raise alarms over Rohingya exploitation by transnational criminal networks Rations cuts, inadequate infrastructure, spiraling violence, and reported forced recruitment by Rohingya militant groups have threatened the lives and wellbeing of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the expert observed in a statement issued from Geneva. He urged all States to provide an emergency infusion of funds to help rescue and support desperate families fleeing conflict and address the current conditions in the camps. “The choice of these States to either step up or step away from this horror could literally be a matter of life and death for countless Rohingya,” Andrews said. Thousands of innocent lives will be lost if the international community fails to respond to ominous signs of another Rohingya bloodbath in Rakhine State, the UN expert said. “Once again, the world seems to be failing desperate people in their hour of peril while a hate-driven unnatural disaster unfolds in real time in Myanmar’s Rakhine State,” he said. Conducting negotiations instead of provocation to find ways for Rohingya repatriation: FM Hasan “While the military-imposed internet shutdown makes it challenging to get information from Northern Rakhine, alarming and credible reports of killings, enforced disappearances, and widespread arson are emerging,” Andrews said. Satellite imagery reveals the burning of large parts of the Buthidaung town, with reports that tens of thousands of Rohingya are being displaced.“Information that has already emerged from northern Rakhine State more than warrants an immediate emergency response by the international community,” the Special Rapporteur said. “With multiple armed groups actors operating in Rakhine, including the Myanmar military, the Arakan Army, and Rohingya groups, including the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, I call on all to adhere to international humanitarian law and take all steps to protect innocent civilian lives, regardless of religion or ethnicity. Mechanisms to provide emergency humanitarian aid must be immediately established and all parties must support the robust infusion of aid into Rakhine,” the expert said. “While an investigation must ultimately uncover the truth and justice must be pursued to hold those responsible fully accountable, the military’s role is clear in fostering toxic conditions in Rakhine State, from propaganda fueling ethnic tensions to the forced recruitment of young Rohingya men into the junta’s military.” Andrews recalled that by opening its border in 2017, Bangladesh saved the lives of untold numbers of Rohingya who fled in the face of genocidal attacks.  

France wants to join Bangladesh’s efforts in terms of adapting to climate change with financial and technical assistance, taking some inspiration from Bangladesh which is at the forefront of vulnerability to climate change. “You have started to adapt to climate change long ago because you are at the forefront. So your experience is quite pioneering. And we want to take some inspiration from that and support you, at the same time with financial and technical assistance,” French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy told a small group of journalists including UNB correspondent at her residence on Wednesday. Bangladesh and France are likely to sign a Climate Adaptation Pact worth 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) during a planned visit by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to France this year. PM’s likely Visit to Paris: France hopes significant progress on purchase from Airbus, satellite “You are all aware that we are going to endorse an adaptation pact aimed at supporting your country in adapting to the effects of climate change. This will be endorsed during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to France. A date is still being searched,” said the ambassador.  She said this adaptation pact is coming with a 1 billion euro package, which are mainly concessional loans. It will mainly be implemented through Agence Française de Développement (AFD) with the government of Bangladesh in association with civil society and local actors. “Because adaptation has to be a bottom up approach as it touches the people in their territories where they are based,” said the ambassador. France to provide assistance to Bangladesh in installing lightning prevention devices: State Minister She said the government is here to support and implement some investments in various areas, which will enhance the adaptation capabilities of Bangladesh’s people, especially in some areas, like coastal areas. “So there will be a range of projects, investments by our development bank - AFD. In cooperation with your government, relevant ministries with other actors including civil society organizations and the youth who are very active and knowledgeable,” she said. She laid emphasis on engaging with academia because research is fundamental. The ambassador said France and their partners in Europe are particularly mobilized to push for accelerated decisions when it comes to transitioning out of fossil fuel, and all the different issues which are on the table within the framework of the COP. Building on Hasina’s visit to France in November 2021, at his invitation, President Emmanuel Macron paid a bilateral visit to Bangladesh from 10-11 September 2023. Bangladesh and France believe in the strength of bilateral and international cooperation in the face of the climate emergency. Brazil, France presidents announce plan to invest $1.1 billion in the Amazon rainforest Following up on the Paris Summit for a New Global Finance Pact, whose recommendations Bangladesh endorses, Bangladesh and France jointly called for the swift implementation of the Paris Pact for People and the Planet and for the mobilization of additional financing from all sources for development, climate and biodiversity, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. Bangladesh and France also believe global efforts to facilitate access to climate finance for developing countries should be accelerated further.    

Kyrgyzstan Deputy Minister of Education Rasul Abazbek on Wednesday (May 22, 2024) assured the safety of Bangladeshi students in the country. He gave the assurance when Bangladesh Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (resident in Tashkent, Uzbekistan) Dr Md Monirul Islam met with him, according to a press release. Bangladeshi students in Kyrgyzstan capital are safe: Foreign Minister Minister of the Embassy M Nazmul Alam was present at the meeting, according to a press release. Addressing a recent incident in Bishkek, the ambassador emphasised the need for a safe and favorable environment for Bangladeshi students studying in various Kyrgyz universities. He urged the Deputy Minister to allow online classes for the next few months, catering to the students' requests. The Ambassador also highlighted the potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in education between Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan. “Conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan; no Bangladeshi student severely injured”: Foreign Minister Deputy Minister Abazbek assured the ambassador that both government authorities and university administrations are committed to ensuring the safety of all foreign students, including those from Bangladesh. He also promised to positively consider the request for online classes and expressed interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding on educational cooperation with Bangladesh. Ambassador Islam further discussed issues related to education, security, accommodation, transportation, and food with university officials. The university authorities assured the Ambassador of their vigilance and active efforts to ensure the well-being and security of Bangladeshi students. Mob attack in Kyrgyzstan: Panicked Bangladeshi students want to return home for a few weeks

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Wednesday said UCEP Bangladesh (Underprivileged Children's Educational Programme, Bangladesh) has been working to create skilled human resources. She made this remark while addressing a function organised on the occasion of USEP's golden jubilee at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Convention Hall at Shahbagh in the city. The Speaker said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working for development and protection of children as well as building them as human resources. “The demographic dividend will have to be utilised by encouraging the youths for employment through technical training,” she said. Dr Chaudhury said there is no alternative to technical education in building Smart Bangladesh as promised by the Prime Minister. “So, necessary changes have been made in the education system of Bangladesh,” she said, adding that women should be given equal opportunities alongside men for inclusive development. The young generation can develop themselves as entrepreneurs by taking advanced training, said the Speaker. Noting that UCEP was established, aiming to alleviate poverty, she said many underprivileged children are now established through employment – this is the success of UCEP. State Minister for Labour and Employment Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls and President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mahbubul Alam also spoke on the occasion. Chairman of UCEP Bangladesh Dr Mohammad Alauddin presided over the event, while Executive Director of UCEP Bangladesh and former principal secretary Dr Md Abdul Karim delivered the welcome speech.

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy on Wednesday said Bangladesh’s people and its public opinion are being targeted by “absolutely massive informational operation” completely distorting the reality when it comes to what France is doing with Ukraine. “I wanted to alert you to that because you are a very professional and serious media. And it's your duty to not only debunk all these but to pre-bunk,” she told a small group of journalists including UNB correspondent at her residence describing the “information manipulation” as a challenge for democracies. The French envoy said Bangladesh is not the only country where it is taking place but it just shows that in the eyes of the current Russian regime, Bangladesh is one of their target countries.  Masdupuy said since early May, she noticed mainly on some YouTube channels, online media, and Bangladeshi online media in Bangladesh some videos explaining to the Bangladeshi people that France has troops in Ukraine, mentioning the particular name of some regiments, units or battalions. “We are not talking about fake news, we are not talking about propaganda, and we are not talking about disinformation or misinformation. We are talking about information manipulation,” she said. She said information manipulation is a real threat and the real challenge that they all face everywhere in the world. Ambassador Masdupuy said France has been facing information manipulation campaigns over the last years and they are seeing these campaigns intensifying in the last month, originating from Russia aiming at harming France. “There are probably reasons that encourage them to do this, but I will not go into it right now.” Responding to a question, she said information manipulation is definitely one issue, which they raise with the government of Bangladesh. The envoy said she does not know how these videos went through and managed to be published in these channels in Bangladesh, including the serious ones. “That's none of my business. My duty is to alert a sample of professional media here in Bangladesh through you,” she said.  Masdupuy said she is not going for any legal action or asking anyone to withdraw the videos when damage is already done. “So, awareness, debunking and pre-bunking is of the essence. It has nothing to do with cyber security issues but an informational manipulation operation.” The ambassador criticisaed Russian President Vladimir Putin and said he has no limits and if he would win this war (Ukraine), then tomorrow, it (Russia) could be invading some other states. “He has no limits, he is a destabilizing power.” She said they are – Europeans - directly under threat from this kind of behavior. “In our view, Ukraine should win the war, and Russia should lose. And we have to win over such an enemy of our democracies and our values.” Responding to a question on the Gaza issue, she said active information manipulation campaigns are also going on to confuse people to excite people against other people. “It has been made very clear. We are in favor of the ceasefire. We are in favor of Israel respecting humanitarian international law, which is not the case, actually. And we are supporting the decision by the International Criminal Court to pursue in two different avenues.” Asked about Global South, the ambassador said, “For us, the world is one. We are one world. So, it will be one world and nobody should have to choose between fighting against poverty, or fighting against climate change, or putting at risk the education of its people.” The ambassador said everybody and every country has its own responsibilities, given its own capabilities. So obviously, European countries, for example, have particular responsibilities and would like to lead by example, when it comes to reducing as soon as possible, our carbon emissions when it comes to taking measures to fight against climate change.” She acknowledged that they have a special responsibility but other countries also do. “The main emitters – China, India and the US - also have special responsibilities. We all have special responsibilities, but it's within one global house, which is our planet and there is no planet B as you know.”

As founding members of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, Bangladesh and Australia have expressed concerns about the loss of life and exploitation of vulnerable people such as the Rohingyas, including women and children, at the hands of transnational criminal networks.  Australian Minister Penny Wong noted that the Commander of Australia’s Maritime Border Command will visit Bangladesh to further discuss these issues.  The Australian Minister and her Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmud agreed on the importance of safe migration pathways in the region to curb irregular and unsafe migration patterns.  Noting the growth in the Bangladesh diaspora in Australia and the contributions made by the two peoples to deepening the bilateral relationship, the ministers affirmed the importance of preservation and promotion of arts and culture, and committed to signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Arts and Culture. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong held their first ministerial dialogue on Tuesday. Australian FM's Visit: Trade, investment, Rohingya, regional security to get priority The ministers noted the warm bilateral relationship founded on more than fifty years of diplomatic relations and deepening friendship. They recognised that high-level visits at the political level can help take the relationship to further new heights, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday. The ministers recalled the constructive, positive bilateral discussions held at the Indian Ocean Conference in Perth in February 2024, following those during the Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka in 2023.  They noted ongoing collaboration and cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association and at the United Nations.  They appreciated the growing strategic depth and dimensions of the bilateral relations.  They noted the commonalities between Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook, the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s Indo-Pacific Outlook and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo Pacific.  They reaffirmed their shared vision and desire to work towards a region that is peaceful, stable, prosperous, inclusive and free from intimidation, interference and coercion. The ministers acknowledged the importance of building regional health security, promoting demographic resilience, enhancing multi-modal connectivity, and strengthening clean energy supply chains.  They agreed on the importance of promoting open channels of communication and confidence-building measures to reduce the risk of conflict in the region. The ministers reaffirmed their support for sovereignty and territorial integrity in the Indo Pacific, democratic values, human rights, freedom of navigation and overflight, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.  Australia and Bangladesh are committed to working together to find practical solutions to shared contemporary challenges, including maritime security threats, climate change, cybercrimes and countering trafficking in persons.  The ministers discussed developments in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East.  They reiterated their shared concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been exacerbated following the 7 October attacks, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and reaffirming support for a two-state solution. Australian FM to meet PM Hasina, FM Hasan Mahmud today The ministers also expressed serious concern over the ongoing war in Ukraine and its repercussions around the world.  They reiterated the call for a peace process through dialogue and diplomacy with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders and in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. The ministers expressed their deep concern at the deteriorating conflict situation in Myanmar and its effect on regional security and stability, calling for scaling up of efforts by ASEAN and other key regional actors. The ministers affirmed their intention to enhance cooperation on deepening two-way trade and economic ties as Bangladesh progresses towards graduation from the LDC status, with Australia committing to maintain tariff-free, quota-free access to its market to support Bangladesh’s smooth transition.  The Bangladesh Minister provided assurances that necessary support would be given to Australian investors, including in thrust sectors like agro-processing, ICT and logistics. The ministers noted Australia’s ongoing funding for multilateral development banks to support Bangladesh’s efforts to address its priority structural reforms that would bolster development and economic growth.  They stressed the need for strengthening the international financial architecture. Noting the importance of enhanced connectivity to increase regional economic integration and growth, the ministers discussed Australian technical support in partnership with the World Bank and International Finance Corporation to connectivity measures via the South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity programme.  The ninisters agreed to work further on bilateral air connectivity and cable connectivity resilience. They acknowledged the importance of skills development and training to foster inclusive economic growth, with Australia announcing AUD 3 million in support for delivery of technical and vocational training for Bangladesh’s youth.  The Bangladesh Minister expressed interest in enhancing cooperation with Australia in the fields of research and innovation.  The ministers affirmed Australia’s long-standing commitment to building capacity in Bangladesh, with over 3,000 Bangladeshis having completed studies under the Australia Awards Scholarships and Fellowship Programme since 1982. Working with the UNDP, Australia has provided technical assistance and policy support towards developing a strategy for inclusive social security system.