foreign-affairs
UK announces £18m new funding to end child marriage in Bangladesh, 11 other countries
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Tuesday announced £18 million of new funding to end child marriage in Bangladesh and 11 other countries through partners UNICEF and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund).
Apart from Bangladesh this funding will benefit women and girls in 111 other countries, including Sierra Leone, Uganda, Ethiopia and Yemen.
UK support for this work has already helped avert 25 million child marriages over the last decade.
This investment will strengthen laws and policies, improve girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health services, support girls to access formal and informal education and tackle the harmful beliefs underlying child marriage.
Liz Truss launched a major global campaign to stop sexual violence against women and girls in conflict around the world.
Speaking at an event for the Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) – established under the UK’s G7 Presidency to support women and girls around the world – the foreign secretary, who is also the UK’s Minister for Women and Equalities, kick started a major new push by the UK to shatter the culture of impunity around the use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war.
She is bringing together close partners to condemn rape and sexual violence in conflict as a “red line”. All options are on the table, including an international convention, to end such heinous acts once and for all.
She also announced that the UK will host a global conference next year to unite the world in action to prevent sexual violence in conflict.
The conference will bring together foreign ministers from all over the world in support of the campaign to end impunity for violence against women and girls.
The announcements are the start of a wider move by the foreign secretary to ensure women and girls are at the centre of the UK’s foreign policy priorities.
The UK is already a world leader in tackling violence against women and girls, and supporting their rights internationally.
Dhaka for early conclusion of inclusive PTA with Jakarta
Bangladesh has stressed the importance of an early conclusion of bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Indonesia by making it inclusive and mutually beneficial.
Bangladesh observed that signing of the PTA, now under negotiation, could be an effective tool for further strengthening the trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen discussed issues when visiting Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met him on Tuesday.
Also read: Indonesian envoy pays farewell call on President Hamid
The Indonesian Minister is visiting Bangladesh to attend the 21st IORA Council of Ministers (COM) meeting in Dhaka.
Momen thanked his Indonesian counterpart for their supportive role in the UNGA, OIC, Human Rights Council on the issue and urged them to play a more proactive role within the ASEAN to ensure an early repatriation of the Rohingyas to their motherland.
He highlighted the plights of 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens who are being temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh on humanitarian ground.
Momen also focused on the huge socio-economic pressure caused by the Rohingyas saying the problem is exerting on Bangladesh.
While exchanging views on the Covid-19 pandemic, he pointed out the very low level of positivity rate currently prevailing in Bangladesh and informed her of the government drive for vaccinating people en masse.
The Indonesian foreign minister congratulated Bangladesh on successfully organizing the 21st Council of Ministers Meeting in Dhaka.
While discussing the importance of IORA, Foreign Minister Momen reiterated that Bangladesh believes in a free, open, peaceful and inclusive indo-pacific for the common global benefit.
The two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction over the flourishing bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest over the last five decades.
Also read: Indonesia seeks more oxygen for COVID-19 sick amid shortage
Terming Indonesia as one of our trusted friends, Momen pointed out the excellent understanding and goodwill prevailing among the highest political level of the two countries.
Referring to the 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries that falls next year, both the ministers agreed to celebrate the special occasion in a befitting manner.
Dhaka urges London to repatriate convicted war criminals
Bangladesh has urged the United Kingdom to repatriate the convicted war criminals currently living there to implement the court verdict as Bangladesh believes in the rule of law.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made the request when visiting UK’s Minister for South Asia Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon met him on Monday.
Dr Momen also asked them to facilitate visas for those working in the curry industry, which will create an opportunity for skilled manpower to work in the UK.
He urged the UK to continue to remain engaged in the questions of Rohingya repatriation. Lord Ahmad assured the Minister of standing by the Rohingyas to help find a durable solution.
Also read: Pakistani war criminals should be brought under trial: Envoy
The UK Minister expressed satisfaction at the recent understanding reached between the government of Bangladesh and UN for the latter’s work on Bhasan Char.
The two ministers exchanged views on cyber security issues and the challenges for religious tolerance and communal harmony.
They talked about further accelerating the UN’s work on promoting responsible behavior in cyberspace by involving the concerned private sector.
During the meeting, the UK Minister discussed his aspirations for the ever closer Bangladesh-UK friendship with opportunities for increased trade and investment, closer security cooperation, cyber security and UK support to critical climate projects and quality education for girls.
Lord Ahmad congratulated Bangladesh on assuming the chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association and recognized Bangladesh’s efforts in managing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Foreign Minister Momen thanked the UK government for removing Bangladesh from the travel restrictions imposed in the wake of the Delta variant.
He commended the role of the UK presidency for COP26 on climate change held in Glasgow this month.
Lord Ahmad acknowledged Bangladesh’s proactive role as the chair of the Climate Vulnerability Forum and recalled his conversations with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Glasgow.
Also read: Bangladeshi war criminal Mueen Uddin sues British Home Secretary
The UK minister informed the Bangladesh Minister about the UK’s funding support of 120 million GBP for climate action in Bangladesh, with focus on addressing the vulnerability of women and girls.
Lord Ahmad also stressed the UK Government’s priority in girl’s education and announced a new funding support of 54 million GBP targeting female students and disadvantaged children affected by the pandemic.
Earlier, Lord Ahmad delivered a speech on “Bangladesh – UK: Partners for Progress” at the Foreign Service Academy.
Lord Ahmad is on a three-day visit to Bangladesh to attend the 21st IORA Council of Ministers’ meetings.
Korea promotes young entrepreneurs’ development through business curriculum at universities
Universities in Bangladesh will work to build capacities among the youth for entrepreneurship and business innovation in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Under the project universities will be able to set a link of a model curriculum through which students will get knowledge to be entrepreneurs and find out need-based business modules to build as their career.
The Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) centre of Dhaka University (DU) organized a consultation conference at Nabab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on Tuesday.
Md. Rashedur Rahman, associate professor and founding executive director of ICE, gave a presentation about the journey of the project.
Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, Vice-Chancellor of DU and chairman of ICE, Young-Ah Doh, country director of KOICA, Derik Kim, project manager of the project management consortium, Heakyung Bae, consultant of the project, Prof Muhammad Anisuzzaman Talukder of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Prof Khondoker Bazlul Hoque, vice chairman of ICE, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Also read: KOICA for enhancing treatment of neurodevelopmental disabilities for children in Bangladesh
Teachers from universities of Chittagong, Rajshahi, Shahjalal and Khulna joined the program using virtual platform while teachers and more than 700 students of DU, representatives from banks and financial institutions attended the program physically.
An 11-member team of experts of the project management consortium (PMC) comprising Korea Polytechnic University (KPU) and Korea Productivity Center (KPC) is visiting Dhaka to conduct “Front-end Survey” and develop “Action Plan” with insights, experience and opinions of relevant stakeholders as part of the project from November 5-18, 2021 are also attending the program and sharing their survey experience.
Prof Akhtaruzzaman said that the 17th goal of the SDGs in collaboration between Korea and Bangladesh will be strengthened.
He emphasized implementation and revitalized the global partnership for sustainable development and hoped that this is just the beginning which will be continuing to make it more viable.
Young -Ah Doh, Country Director, KOICA said that this is the first consultation aimed to create an environment to promote youth entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.
She said universities can play a great role in entrepreneurship by sharing opinions, exchanging ideas and creating action plans.
Also read: KOICA helps Bangladesh strengthen road maintenance, management system
Derik Kim expressed his hope that this project will be able to bring all the stakeholder groups from govt., industry, academia and others in one platform to develop an effective entrepreneurship ecosystem in Bangladesh.
The project under the Ministry of Education will be implemented by the University Grant Commission (UGC) and DU in partnership with the KOICA, other leading public universities, and relevant stakeholders.
The overall objective of the project is to improve the environment for potential youth entrepreneurs through the capacity building of Bangladeshi universities on entrepreneurship education.
Some of the activities under the project include: curriculum development on entrepreneurship education; capacity development of faculties, professionals, and students; advocacy and awareness initiatives; entrepreneurial roadmap through research, and infrastructural development.
"Capacity Building of Universities in Bangladesh to Promote Youth Entrepreneurship" under the Government-to-Government (G2G) modality has been already signed between the Government of Bangladesh and South Korean Government on January 31, 2021.
Number of Bangladeshi students on the rise in US
Some 8,598 Bangladeshi students chose to study in the United States during the 2020/2021 academic year, according to the 2021 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.
In celebrating International Education Week (IEW) on November 15-19, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Institute of International Education released the 2021 Open Doors® Report on International Educational Exchange.
Read:US offers Bangladeshi students to study at American high school
Bangladesh advanced three places from 17th to 14th in the list of countries sending students to the United States, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday.
During an unprecedented pandemic with a global decrease in international students, Bangladesh only had a 2.7% decrease from 2020.
Promoting educational exchanges between Bangladesh and the United States is a strategic priority because international education exchanges benefit both nations, peoples, and professional networks.
Speaking last night at a virtual seminar on U.S. women’s higher education institutions to open IEW 2021 in Bangladesh, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Helen LaFave said, “While COVID-19 has caused global challenges, it is heartening and exciting to see Bangladeshi students from across the country pursuing higher education in the United States.”
LaFave said she hoped the event would help Bangladeshi students find their path to study in the United States.
She urged the audience to engage EducationUSA advisers located in the four American Spaces in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Khulna for information on higher education opportunities.
The U.S. Embassy, through EducationUSA Bangladesh, is celebrating IEW 2021 by offering several virtual programs for Bangladeshi students and scholars.
Read: Bangladeshi secondary students invited to apply for study prog in US
EducationUSA advising centers in Bangladesh will host webinars on topics including sessions on women’s colleges, liberal arts education, a conversation with Bangladeshi student associations at U.S. universities, and other topics related to both undergraduate and graduate studies in the United States.
Speakers include U.S. Embassy officials, U.S. university alumni and admission officials, who will cover application preparation, scholarships and financial aid, and share perspectives with prospective Bangladeshi students.
US donates 18 freezer trucks for vaccine delivery in Bangladesh
The United States has purchased 18 trucks to help Bangladesh establish a dedicated fleet of specialized cold-chain vehicles to deliver COVID-19 vaccines across the country.
US acting Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) William Dowers and US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Kathryn Stevens handed over the brand new freezer trucks to Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque as part of the ongoing US support to the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Bangladesh.
Read: Bangladesh plans to import huge petroleum fuel amid global market volatility
USAID purchased four trucks on the local market with an additional 14 vehicles to arrive in the coming months, said the US Embassy in Dhaka.
The total US government COVID-19 assistance to Bangladesh exceeds $121 million.
USAID partnered with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the agencies that will oversee the procurement of these vehicles and support the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to roll out COVID-19 vaccinations across the country.
“We hope to sustain the impressive momentum Bangladesh has made in turning the tide against the pandemic. Through our work, we are helping to get more people vaccinated so they can protect themselves and their loved ones, and return to more normal lives,” said acting DCM Dowers.
Bangladesh, Tanzania keen to work on blue economy, agriculture
Bangladesh and Tanzania have agreed to work with Bangladesh in agriculture, blue economy and other economic sectors through establishing official contacts.
Tanzania has expressed interest to know about the aquaculture, fisheries sectors, shipbuilding industry and horticultural sector of Bangladesh.
They also highlighted the importance of exchange of business delegations to develop their trade and economy.
Tanzanian Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Mashimba Mashauri Ndaki and Minister of Blue Economy and Fisheries Abdullah Hussein Kombo met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the State Guest House Padma on Monday evening and discussed the ways of broader cooperation.
Read: France to donate 2mn doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh: FM
Both the ministers are visiting Dhaka for participating in the 21st Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers and related meetings.
Dhaka, Colombo look for quick conclusion of PTA
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Monday emphasized the importance of expeditious conclusion of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and enhancement of trade and commerce between the two countries. The two countries also underscored the need for further strengthening air and maritime connectivity for the greater benefits of the two nations. The issues were discussed when Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Prof Gamini Lakshman Peiris met his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen at State Guest House Padma. The two sides stressed further cooperation in the sectors like trade and commerce, investment, tourism, connectivity, agriculture, fisheries, education, and people-to-people contact.
Read: Border killings unfortunate for Bangladesh; shameful for India: FM Dr Momen congratulated the newly appointed Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and thanked him for attending the 21st meeting of the IORA Council of Ministers’ (COM) physically despite the global Covid-19 related health concerns. He also stated that Bangladesh attaches high importance to its relations with Sri Lanka which, he termed excellent, based on the historical linkages, friendship, and commonalities of views and shared vision of prosperity. Recalling the state visit of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to Dhaka on 19–20 March 2021 on the occasion of birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, he noted that it contributed towards strengthening the ties of the two countries. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister expressed his happiness for meeting the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. He recalled the recent meeting of Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the World Leaders’ Summit of CoP-26 and said the leadership of Sri Lanka highly appreciated the recent economic development of Bangladesh. He reiterated the importance of close relations between the two neighbours. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister sought collaboration on the area of e-commerce, involvement in the digital sector through sharing of Bangladesh’s expertise. Dr Momen particularly mentioned Bangladesh’s success in the pharmaceutical sector and urged his Sri Lankan counterpart to import pharmaceuticals products from Bangladesh. Both the ministers noted the ongoing cooperation under IORA, maritime cooperation, maritime security, blue economy, climate change and prevention of over exploitation of marine resources.
Read: France firmly with Bangladesh over Rohingya issue: FM Momen They also pledged to explore the possible collaboration between Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University of Bangladesh and National Institute of Oceanographic Marine Sciences of Sri Lanka. The meeting ended with a positive note in a cordial atmosphere. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister is on a three-day visit to Bangladesh and will attend the 21st meeting of the IORA Council of Ministers’ (COM) which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
Inclusive politics essential for every country’s prosperity: British Minister
UK’s Minister for South Asia Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon on Monday expressed optimism that the citizens of Bangladesh will have an open and vigorous debate about the country’s direction as Bangladesh approaches its next election period.
“Inclusive politics are essential for every country’s prosperity, something that the Father of the Nation (Bangabandhu) Sheikh Mujibur Rahman knew very well,” he said, adding that the constitution (Bangladesh) emphasizes both transparency and due process which is a real guiding right to everyone.
The British Minister said Bangladesh, on Bangabandhu’s legacy, has built something quite remarkable and there is an opportunity for this great nation to go even further.
He made the remarks while delivering keynote speech at a programme titled “Bangladesh-UK: Partners in Progress' with Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Masud Bin Momen as the chair. The event was held at the Foreign Service Academy.
Lord Ahmad, also the Minister for the United Nations and the Commonwealth at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), said as a steadfast friend and partner of Bangladesh they value this unique relationship and friendship.
“Our message is simple - to all of you from all of us. I assure we’re partners for today and for the future. As close and honest friends, we look forward to further strengthening this unique partnership,” he said.
Read:'Bangladesh a compelling case for UK investors'
Technology upgradation crucial for RMG industry to stay competitive: BGMEA
Technology upgradation in the apparel industry is crucial to remain competitive in the global market, said the apex trade body of Bangladesh's garments manufacturers.
"Use of modern technologies, tools and software are predominant when it comes to enhancing productivity and quality," Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan said while speaking at the webinar "AI & Robotics: Global Implication of Artificial Intelligence" Sunday.
Read: BGMEA wins 'WITSA Global ICT Excellence Award' for workers' biometric database
The webinar was organised as a part of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) – held during November 11-14 in Dhaka with the participation of experts from more than 75 countries.
Faruque said technological innovations are imperative not only to enhance competitiveness but also to make a business sustainable. "There is no alternative to technologies to ensure sustainable use of water, energy and other resources. Sustainability and digitalisation are interlinked and greatly complement each other."
Automation and technology upgradation will not impact employment adversely because all the processes required to make a garment cannot be replaced by machines, the BGMEA chief said.
"However, we should train our people with the right skills to operate new generation technologies. We need to turn the challenge into an opportunity through re-skilling and up-skilling."
Read:Post-LDC era: BGMEA seeks British lawmakers' support to retain market access
Ariyan M Kabir, co-founder and CEO of GrayMatter Robotics Inc, Professor Genci Capi of the Hosei University of Japan, and Dr Patrick Meier, co-founder and CEO of WeRobotics, also joined the discussion.
Lafifa Jamal, professor of robotics and mechatronics engineering at the University of Dhaka, moderated it.