Dhaka, Nov 18 (UNB) - Daily Leadership, one of the most influential Nigerian dailies on Sunday mentioned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as one of the  world leaders with humble lifestyles.

The daily carried a feature story in its “Unreported" section only on five  world leaders titled "World Leaders With Humble Lifestyles," said Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria M Shameem Ahsan. 

It specially mentioned about her modest monthly salary (US$ 800 equivalent to Nigerian Naira 288000) while referring to Forbes’s list of the “World’s Hundred Most Powerful Women” in which Prime Minister was ranked at 59, he said. 

“Two of the most outstanding achievements of Sheikh Hasina are her leadership roles and success behind the trials of Bangabandhu killers and the persons who committed crimes against humanity in 1971,” the prestigious daily pointedly mentioned. 
 

As a part of public diplomacy drive, the High Commissioner recently visited some media houses in Nigeria in recent months including the Office of the Daily Leadership. 

Dele Fanimo, Chief Operating Officer(COO) of the Daily assured to work closely with the Bangladesh High Commission to create greater understanding between the peoples of the two friendly countries.
 

Dhaka, Nov 18 (UNB) - Newly appointed US Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh Earl R Miller arrived here on Sunday to begin his Bangladesh assignment.
 
He will soon present his credentials to President Abdul Hamid.
 
Miller was sworn in at US Department of State on Tuesday as the next US Ambassador to Bangladesh. 
 
During the swearing ceremony, he was joined by former US Ambassadors as well as Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Mohammad Ziauddin, said the US Embassy in Dhaka. 
 
The US Senate confirmed the appointment of Earl R Miller as the next US Ambassador to Bangladesh as Ambassador Marcia Bernicat completed her tenure in Dhaka.
 
Miller, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, served as the US Ambassador to Botswana, a position he held since 2014.
 
Prior to his role as the chief of mission (COM) in Botswana, he served as consul general in Johannesburg, South Africa (2011-2014), and Regional Security Officer (RSO) at embassies in New Delhi, India (2008-2011), Baghdad, Iraq (2007-2008), and Jakarta, Indonesia, (2004-2007).
 
Miller has served as senior regional security officer, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2000-2003), assistant special agent in charge, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Boston Field Office, Boston, Massachusetts (1998-2000) and senior regional security officer, Gaborone, Botswana (1995-1998).
 
He served in DSS headquarters in Washington (1994-95) and field offices in Miami (1990 - 93) and San Francisco (1987-88). 
 
He was assistant RSO in San Salvador, El Salvador (1988-90). He served as an officer in the US Marine Corps (1981-1984) and US Marine Corps Reserve (1985-1992).
 
Miller earned a BA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1981 and graduated from the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Virginia in 1994, according to the website of the US Department of State. 
 

Dhaka, Nov 18 (UNB) – Bangladesh has urged the visiting Polish delegation to encourage Polish investors and entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh in various sectors like shipbuilding, agriculture, food processing, blue economy, energy cooperation and mining.
 
Secretary (Bilateral & Consular) at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Kamrul Ahsan made the request when the delegation from the Polish Foreign Ministry, led by Pawel Milewski, Director of its Asia Pacific Department, met him at his office on Sunday.
 
Bangladesh has thanked the Polish government for their continued support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue, and requested it to further extend this support as a responsible member of the international community to ensure safe and dignified return of the Rohingyas to their homeland.

Both sides agreed to maintain possible cooperation in different international fora and platforms, said the Foreign Ministry here.

During the meeting, a wide range of issues of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Poland were discussed.
 
The two sides also reviewed the progress of different issues and discussed the future course of actions.
 
The meeting aimed at broadening and strengthening the existing level of bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Poland. Recalling the support of Poland in the Liberation War in 1971, the Secretary (Bilateral & Consular) expressed gratitude to the Polish side.
 
The bilateral discussions involved exchange of views on different political and bilateral issues, including strengthening cooperation in trade and economic areas.
 
The sides also laid importance to promotion of people-to-people contacts.
 
Secretary Ahsan mentioned that notwithstanding the excellent relations between the two countries, exchange of high-level visits is not very frequent.
 
He underscored the need for exchange of high-level visits from both sides to further deepen the existing relations between the two countries.
 
Both sides agreed to reinforce and establish cooperation in the sectors like education, culture, agriculture, energy and mining, science and technology etc.
 
Secretary Ahsan also requested the Polish delegation to ease the visa issuance procedure for Bangladeshi students, businessmen and visitors.
 
Mentioning the availability of a large pool of skilled and semi-skilled professionals and workers in Bangladesh, he proposed the Polish side to import workers and professionals from Bangladesh to fulfill the labour shortage in Poland.
 
Director, Asia Pacific Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Pawel Milewski pointed out that both Bangladesh and Poland may realise the huge potentials of bilateral trade and commerce.
 
He categorically mentioned that Bangladesh can be extremely benefitted by importing certain food products like fish, dairy, meat, egg, poultry etc from Poland at a competitive price and quality.
 
The Polish Director also underlined the importance of high level visits from Bangladesh to Poland. 
 
Milewski particularly mentioned that upcoming visit of President of Bangladesh to Poland in December 2018 will provide opportunity for meeting with his counterpart in Poland when two sides may discuss various matters of mutual interests.
 
He also mentioned that Poland is ready to share knowledge in the areas of green technology and green development with Bangladesh.
 
As proposed by the Bangladesh side, the Polish side assured to explore the possibility of offering scholarship to Bangladeshi students on subjects related to maritime affairs.
 
He also emphasised on enhanced business contacts in the form of exchange of visits of business delegations as well as those between chambers of commerce of the two countries.
 
Apart from bilateral issues, views on international and regional issues were exchanged during the meeting.
 

Dhaka, Nov 16 (UNB) – Unicef has called on the international community to continue working with the governments and civil society of Bangladesh and Myanmar in support of Rohingya children and families, towards longer-term solutions to this crisis, based on respect for and protection of the human rights of all Rohingya people.

“So whilst the situation in Myanmar remains incredibly worrying, we also have concerns for Rohingya children in Bangladesh," said Unicef spokesperson in Geneva Christophe Boulierac at a press briefing in Geneva on Friday. 

The spokesperson said education remains high on their list of concerns – particularly for teenagers in the camp.  

Their plight was outlined by Unicef in a child alert released in August this year.  

"We aim to continue our work providing a network of Learning Centres (LCs) and Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs). There are now more than 1100 learning centres run by Unicef and its partners in the camps reaching 124,000 children with education," said Christophe Boulierac. 

He said many organisations that worked in northern Rakhine State prior to August 2017 have been unable to resume activities to the extent desired or previously held due to restrictions by the government of Myanmar. 

"Unicef along with the humanitarian community in Myanmar continues to call for unhindered access, including simplified access procedures, to enable the timely and predictable delivery of life-saving aid, protection assistance and build confidence among communities," said the spokesperson.

“This week we have seen widespread reports that Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh may be forcibly repatriated to Myanmar, reports that Unicef views with the utmost concern, with particular concern at how such a move would affect children," said Boulierac.

“Our colleagues working in Unchiprang camp in Cox’s Bazar – one of the camps targeted for repatriation – witnessed a large demonstration by Rohingya refugees against the plans for repatriation. 

The camp authorities reinforced the message that while they are ready to repatriate refugees on a voluntary basis, no Rohingya refugees will be forced to return to Myanmar if they do not wish to do so," he said.

Unicef welcomed this move by the Bangladesh government. 

"Unicef wholly supports the approach of UNHCR in relation to this question. Any repatriation must be voluntary, sustainable, conducted in safety and with dignity," said Boulierac.

He said children should not be separated from their parents or guardians and children should not be exposed to any levels of stress or discomfort during repatriation, nor should any child that is ill be repatriated.

“Unofficial polls conducted by our Unicef colleagues in the camps have all reached the same conclusion. The overwhelming majority of refugees are unwilling to be repatriated unless their safety can be guaranteed," said Boulierac.

The consensus is that while conditions in the camps are tough, they remain preferable to the perceived risks of returning to Myanmar.  

For many, the trauma they witnessed during their exodus from Myanmar at the end of 2017 is still fresh in their minds.

“It is easy to understand their concern. Rohingya children and families who remain in Rakhine State continue to face particular hardship and are in need of humanitarian assistance due to ongoing restrictions on their freedom of movement and limited access to essential services such as health and education," said the Spokesperson. 

On November 13, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that it continues to receive reports of ongoing violations of the rights of Rohingya remaining in northern Rakhine, which include allegations of killings, disappearances and arbitrary arrests, as well as widespread restrictions on the rights to freedom of movement, health and education.
 

Dhaka, Nov 16 (UNB) - The Embassy of Switzerland hosted a special event - “Swiss Night” on Thursday in the city to celebrate the friendship between Bangladesh and Switzerland.

The event was attended by a wide range of audience including members of senior officials, the civil society, business, cultural and international community, development partners as well as the Swiss citizens living in Bangladesh.

Welcoming the guests to the Swiss Night, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Rene Holenstein noted that Switzerland has been a strong and committed economic and development partner of Bangladesh since its independence. 

International Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister Dr Gowher Rizvi attended the event as the chief guest, while Professor Anisuzzaman joined the event as special guest, said the Embassy on Friday. 

Both D rRizvi and Professor Anisuzzaman highlighted the strong and long standing bilateral relations that exist between the two countries. 

One of the main attraction of the Swiss Night was the announcement and handing over of the “Swiss Embassy Award”. 

With a view to recognizing the outstanding personal efforts of one of its partners, the Embassy accorded an Award to DrPu Chaw Nu, the Superintendent of the 250 Bed District Sadar Hospital of Cox’s Bazar, who like many other Bangladeshis played an instrumental role in providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya refugees and the host community during the ongoing humanitarian crisis.    

The event also offered the guests a Swiss culinary experience; a number of traditional and delectable Swiss delicacies were on the menu. 

The guests also enjoyed a riveting performance by the popular Bangladeshi musician Armeen Musa. 

The event was organized in cooperation with the private sector, including KUEHNE + NAGEL Ltd, LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Ltd and Novartis (Bangladesh) Ltd.