Foreign-Affairs
IFAD President lauds Bangladesh's remarkable achievements in food production, climate-smart agriculture
President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario has praised Bangladesh's remarkable achievements in food production, climate-smart agriculture, and including women and youth in rural enterprises.
He met Agriculture Minister Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque at the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ meeting in Hyderabad, India, recently.
Successes of the 45-year-long partnership between IFAD and the Government of Bangladesh include crop diversification, business-oriented agriculture, youth capacity building, and private sector engagement were also discussed, IFAD said in a media release on Monday.
“Despite the fact that the multiple crises are staling global progress on eradicating poverty and hunger, we can still achieve our goals,” said Lario.
Read: G20: IFAD President Alvaro Lario advocates for increased investment in rural transformation
“We know what works: climate-smart technologies, improved resilience, and commercially viable nature-based solutions are proven ways to build equitable, sustainable and inclusive food systems. But to realize this potential, we must invest in small-scale producers and boost the role of rural women and youth in value chains,” he added.
“Continuous collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and development partners such as IFAD is vital to creating an inclusive and empowering ecosystem for our farmers to fortify resilience against climate change, foster sustainable food systems, and drive rural development with the ultimate goal of promoting rural prosperity,” said Abdur Razzaque.
The delegation also discussed the three ongoing IFAD-financed projects implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).
First, the National Agricultural Technology Programmes – Phase 2 (NATP-II) co-financed with the World Bank, strengthened the research abilities of the MoA and established extension offices at the union parishad level – both critical interventions in the transformation of the extension system in Bangladesh.
Read: IFAD president visits India to advocate for small-scale farmers, rural communities at G20 meeting
Second, The Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project (SACP) enabled 250,000 coastal farmers to diversify crops, improve livelihoods, and build climate resilience.
The success of this model has opened up opportunities to extend the project's reach to an additional 420,000 farmers through a USD 31 million project, including a 20 million grant from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program.
The Programme on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition, Entrepreneurship, and Resilience (PARTNER), co-financed with the World Bank. is a USD 543 million sectoral transformation project promoting crop diversification, entrepreneurship, and climate resilience across Bangladesh.
Read more: Bangladesh, IFAD sign financing deal for USD 31 million project to diversify agriculture
UK will continue to "support democratic process" in Bangladesh
British Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Anne-Marie Trevelyan has assured that her government will continue to support democratic process in Bangladesh, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam held a meeting with the British Minister on Monday in London and expressed Bangladesh government’s resolve to extend all possible support to the Election Commission to hold free and fair general elections.
During the meeting, the State Minister expressed happiness that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could attend the historic royal coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6 May 2023 in London.
Read: PM Hasina credits peaceful democratic atmosphere for country's massive progress
He also expressed satisfaction over the fruitful meeting between Hasina and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the Marlborough House in May on the margins of the Commonwealth Leaders Event.
The FCDO Minister of State (Indo-Pacific) conveyed the British government’s sincere appreciation for Prime Minister Hasina’s attending the royal coronation.
She expressed that Rishi Sunak was pleased to meet Hasina during the royal coronation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The British Minister expressed satisfaction at the signing of the Joint Communique on Aviation Trade and Investment Partnership between Bangladesh and the UK governments during the Prime Minister’s visit to the UK last month.
The State Minister thanked the British government for their humanitarian support to the Rohingya camps and political support towards a safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar.
He also underscored that the Rohingya crisis must not go out of sight of the international community.
The British Minister of State praised Bangladesh’s generosity in hosting the Rohingyas and echoed that the issue should get due attention from the international community.
Read: New visa policy merely to support democratic electoral process: Ambassador Haas
The State Minister informed the British Minister of State that the Bangladesh Cabinet decided last week to accede to the Hong Kong Convention on Ship Recycling paving the way for the Convention to come into effect.
The British Minister of State thanked the Bangladesh government for its decision and expressed the desire to work together for green shipping and maritime security.
Both sides also shared their views on Commonwealth affairs, particularly on trade and investment issues and hoped that the upcoming Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum in Dhaka will be a success.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem and Director General (West Europe & EU) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kazi Russel Pervez were present at the meeting.
Read: Govt expects undemocratic forces to refrain from misguided efforts to jeopardize electoral process
Momen unhappy over Congressmen’s letter, says statement over minorities is not true
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday expressed displeasure over the misinformation in the six Congressmen’s letter regarding Bangladesh’s Hindu and Christian.
The ruling Awami League party has been criticising their recent letter for its content, saying that they mimicked nothing but the BNP.
The Foreign Minister said that the content regarding the religious minorities in the country does not represent facts.
“It’s not true,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday referring to the letter’s content that contains what he said was wrong information.
Dhaka to welcome if BRICS formally invites to join
The minister said such letters need proper verification before sending. Momen said exchange of such letters is the headache of those who are involved, but people including journalists should question the wrong information.
“For God’s sake, don’t destroy the country. This country belongs to all,” he said referring to political parties that are involved in engaging lobbyists to run smear campaigns against the country. But he did not name any.
Momen advised them to deploy lobbyists for the welfare of the country like how the energy supply can be increased to Bangladesh and how employment opportunities can be boosted.
Regarding the next national election, the Foreign Minister said the government remains very transparent to hold a free and fair election in the country.
Bangladesh likely to become member of BRICS in August: Momen
He said all political parties need to demonstrate sincerity and commitment to ensure a fair election free from violence.
US President Joe Biden will host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state-level visit to the US, which will include a state dinner on June 22.Asked whether the Bangladesh issue will be there, Momen said they will discuss what they will feel good about.
Uphold multilateralism for greater global interest: Momen tells G20 meeting
The minister said he has nothing to talk about that meeting. “India is a mature democratic country. India has a very strong leadership.”
Asked about PM Sheikh Hasina’s likely visit to China, the Foreign Minister said it is a wrong statement that PM Hasina is going to China.He said the Chinese side invited the PM in September, but Bangladesh conveyed that the PM will be occupied in New York at that time.
Asked about any rescheduling of the visit, Momen said, “I don’t know about rescheduling.”
Responding to a question, the Foreign Minister said he had a very good meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar in India recently.
“We have discussed many issues. I am so happy. We are working at the same level. I am very pleased. They have shown much respect to us,” he said.
UNDP, British Council join hands to empower Bangladeshi youth
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh and the British Council signed a deal on Monday at the UNDP Dhaka office to address the growing importance of English language proficiency in today's interconnected world.
Recognising the significance of English skills in enabling youth to compete in the local and global job market, this collaboration aims to offer online self-study courses through Futurenation, focusing on workforce development and youth upskilling.
Futurenation is a unique alliance formed by UNDP Bangladesh, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) & Grameenphone, working towards accelerating the Nation's future economic growth.
UNDP to work with content creators to promote SDGs
English has emerged as the global language of communication, even for non-native speakers, making proficiency in the language essential for accessing employment opportunities and entrepreneurial scopes with confidence. Leveraging the British Council's unparalleled expertise in delivering English language education for over 80 years, this partnership aims to equip the youth of Bangladesh with the necessary language skills to navigate the dynamic employment landscape.
Through this joint initiative, UNDP Bangladesh and the British Council will establish a framework to facilitate global citizenship education, co-design initiatives, and provide skills and training programs for the youth.
By combining their strengths, expertise, and resources, the two organisations seek to magnify their impact and accelerate progress toward shared objectives.Stefan Liller, the Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership.
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"This collaboration between the British Council and UNDP marks a significant milestone in our shared mission to promote education, culture, and sustainable development. By joining forces, we synergise our strengths, expertise, and resources, magnifying our impact and accelerating progress toward our shared objectives,” he said.
One of the primary focuses of this partnership is to jointly develop training courses on business English, enhancing the employability of the youth and creating economic opportunities for all. Additionally, the initiative will prioritise climate action and youth, business and human rights from the youth perspective, and joint campaigns for creating social impact.
Tom Miscioscia, the Director of the British Council in Bangladesh, said they are excited to collaborate with UNDP on the Futurenation programme.
“Together, we will harness the transformative power of education and boost young people’s English language skills across Bangladesh to enhance their entrepreneurship and employment prospects.
The British Council is committed to supporting Bangladesh’s next generation by building their skills, confidence, and connections through life-changing opportunities in English, education, and the arts.”
The collaboration between UNDP and the British Council will open numerous opportunities for information sharing and consultation on matters of common interest.
Together, they aim to ensure inclusive and quality education, leaving no one behind in the pursuit of sustainable economic well-being.
Dhaka to welcome if BRICS formally invites to join
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh will welcome if BRICS invites Bangladesh formally to join the group of five member states - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
“We will surely join once they invite us. We are yet to receive any formal letter (inviting us to join). BRICS leaders are thinking of taking some emerging economies – around eight new countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Bangladesh,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
Earlier in Geneva, Momen hinted that Bangladesh is likely to become a member of BRICS in August this year.
Read: Bangladesh likely to become member of BRICS in August: Momen
BRICS leaders are expected to attend the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa from August 22-24. The Summit will be hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
BRICS leaders will engage with business during the BRICS Business Forum and engage with the New Development Bank, BRICS Business Council and other mechanisms during the Summit.
South Africa will also continue its outreach to leaders from Africa and the global South and hold a BRICS Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue during the 15th BRICS Summit.
Read: Momen joins Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meet
Foreign Minister Dr Momen recently joined the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting virtually at the invitation of the Foreign Minister of South Africa Dr. Naledi Pandor and said the current global economic crises are inducing countries to cooperate more in regional and multilateral platforms.
Momen referred to the development, economic, environmental and health-related focus of the BRICS nations.
He suggested that the BRICS member states transfer their cost-effective technology to the developing partners.
Read more: China hosts BRICS meeting amid rising economic concerns
Indian Naval ship INS Kiltan arrives at Chattogram
Indian Naval Ship, INS Kiltan arrived at Chattogram on Monday on a three-day goodwill visit as part of the ongoing close cooperation between the Navies of Bangladesh and India.
The ship was given a warm welcome by the Bangladesh Navy.
Naval cooperation between Bangladesh and India is an important pillar of the bilateral defence cooperation, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
Also Read: Chandpur to get 300-ft modern naval port in World Bank-backed project
Regular exchange of ship visits has played an important role in strengthening mutual trust and understanding between the two Navies, it said.
INS Kiltan is the third ship of P 28 class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) corvettes, indigenously built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
Also Read: Chinese navy ship pays port call to Philippines in goodwill tour of region
Joint efforts on climate front can make a difference: US
Highlighting the importance of mobilizing youth leaders, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Helen LaFave has said climate action is a lot of work and they can make a difference if they work together.
“This is why we emphasize the need to mobilize youth leaders. They are not only future leaders of Bangladesh; they are already talented leaders in their schools and in their communities now,” LaFave said on Sunday.
She joined PM's special envoy for climate change Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) Vice Chancellor Tanweer Hasan for a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) youth-led campaign to mobilize action to mitigate climate change and protect the environment.
Bangladesh committed to ecology, biodiversity protection despite resource constraints: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday assured local and international partners that the government remains sensitized to its obligations and responsibilities for environmental and ecological protection, and have been advancing towards fulfilling those obligations in a coordinated, decisive and phased manner.
"We believe it is imperative to place ecology at the fulcrum of national, regional and global policies to combat growing threats to the world’s food, water and survival systems," he said.
Momen said Bangladesh’s commitment to ecology and biodiversity protection has remained a constant in their State policy despite its resource constraints and high population density.
The Foreign Minister was speaking at a policy dialogue on ‘Equity and Co-management of Baikka Beel Permanent Wetland Sanctuary’ facilitated by International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCD).
FM in Kenya to attend 2nd UN-HABITAT Assembly being held in Nairobi
The Foreign Minister said USAID funded Protibesh programme has been critical in promoting community-based management of the Baikka Beel, with support from the concerned government entities.
It appears that there are some procedural issues concerning Baikka Beel’s management, which perhaps need to be placed in the right context, he said.
"Be that as it may, the preservation and management experience with Baikka Beel is certainly an educational one for other ecologically critical areas in the country."
Momen said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had enacted the Wildlife Preservation Order as early as in 1973.
Bangladesh an important political, trade, economic partner in South Asia: Belarusian FM
Following his lead, he said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government inserted Article 18A in our Constitution, which stipulates, “The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to preserve and safeguard natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wild life for the present and future citizens.”
The Foreign Minister said they cannot achieve their goals in a month or a year, but through their sustained and focused efforts, they can indeed reach their desired objectives.
"Bangladesh, as a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, remains committed to the conservation of our designated wetlands," he said.
Two Ramsar sites, the Sundarbans and Tanguar Haor, have emerged as popular tourist destinations with growing public awareness about respecting their ecological fragilities.
Hakaluki Haor, a biodiversity hotspot, awaits declaration as our third Ramsar site.
"There should perhaps be similar consideration and initiatives with Baikka Beel in the broader context of the Hail Haor," he said.
Momen said they need to approach the issue of preserving these wetlands from the long-term perspective of Prime Minister’s legacy of the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100.
Peace, tolerance keys to stability, security, Momen tells OIC CFM
Speaking of wetlands, Baikka Beel permanent wetland sanctuary serves as a critical habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including several endangered species, in the larger Sylhet region, he said.
"However, I understand that the existing infrastructure in Baikka Beel is inadequate to support a secure and sustainable nature tourism venture," Momen said.
"It is essential that we invest in improving the infrastructure and developing facilities that cater to the needs of eco-conscious tourists," he mentioned.
Simultaneously, Momen said, they must enhance the capacity of the local management bodies by formulating a long-term strategy, creating promotional materials, and providing training to eco-tour guides.
He underlined the government’s unequivocal commitment to promoting nature-based solutions for preserving ecologically critical and protected areas.
"As we strive to preserve the biodiversity of Baikka Beel, let us remember our responsibility to our future generations and thus unite in our efforts to forge a path towards a sustainable future for this invaluable wetland sanctuary," he said.
US wants to see Bangladesh as a resilient Indo-Pacific partner, reevaluates Country Development Cooperation Strategy
The United States wants to see Bangladesh as a more inclusive, democratic and prosperous country, and a resilient Indo-Pacific partner.
The USAID re-evaluated its Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for Bangladesh and amended the plan to address evolving needs through 2027.
This CDCS was originally developed and finalized in 2020. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, USAID re-evaluated the strategy in 2023.
The CDCS goal is for Bangladesh to be a “more inclusive, democratic, prosperous, and resilient Indo-Pacific partner.”
The Country Development Cooperation Strategy reflects the Mission’s approach to working with a more mature government of Bangladesh, according to USAID.
Read: USAID Trade Activity to publish agro-export guideline for Gulf countries
Through this strategy, USAID builds on past work in economic growth, education, health, energy, environment, climate change, food security, disaster preparedness, democracy, human rights, and good governance using programming approaches that capitalize on the interdependence of development sectors.
The CDCS focuses on inclusive and integrated development efforts to drive greater impact across four development objectives.
These are strengthening democracy for an inclusive society, fostering sustainable economic growth, advancing human capital development and strengthening resilience to climate change and other shocks.
Bangladesh’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy 2020-2027 presents USAID’s approach to furthering the country’s development, according to the USAID.
The strategy acknowledges Bangladesh’s challenges and leverages its assets as an important and longstanding development partner.
Bangladesh is a strategically important country in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region due to its geographic location connecting South and Southeast Asia, substantive security and development ties with the United States, and decades of consistent economic growth, according to the 27-page document published this month.
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries with major challenges in poverty, governance, inclusive development, and institutional and civil society capacity, it mentioned.
Bangladesh is also home to one of the largest and fastest-growing youth populations, with nearly 30 percent of its population of 165 million between the ages of 15 and 29.
Bangladesh hosts one-fifth of the world’s refugee population, primarily consisting of the displaced Rohingya population, and has the largest refugee camp in the world.
Rapid urbanization coupled with a rapidly growing economy have put unsustainable pressures on infrastructure, basic services, natural resources, and the environment.
Read: USAID announces $75 million assistance for Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar, host community
Impacts of Ukraine War on Bangladesh Economy
The USAID said the war in Ukraine has also impacted Bangladesh’s economy, food security, and poverty levels, while
at the same time revealing some of the underlying vulnerabilities in the country’s fiscal and financial systems.
Since the war in Ukraine began, foreign reserves have dropped, the taka has depreciated by close to 25 percent, and the trade deficit has grown by 8 percent as of November 2022, the strategy paper reads.
Inflation has also been increasing, especially in food, fertilizer, and fuel, such that in August 2022 the price of fuel increased by over 40 percent, it mentioned.
In response, it said, the government of Bangladesh has implemented a number of measures aimed at preserving food security and retaining fiscal space, including dramatically increasing the subsidy on fertilizers and restructuring its fuel subsidy.
With rising non-performing loans and poor financial sector governance, banks have been poorly positioned to help the country weather the crisis, said the USAID document.
Overall, the fallout from the Russia-Ukraine war has underscored the need to reform Bangladesh’s weak tax collection system, costly subsidies, and financial sector governance, it mentioned.
USAID said it contributes to creating a business-enabling environment through policy strengthening, building strategic partnerships, expanding access to economic opportunities and finances.
Read more: USAID: Some structural issues to be fixed in Bhasan Char
USAID activities support the Bangladesh government’s efforts to strengthen and streamline policies and regulations for better compliance with international standards in the areas of trade and business processes, it said.
Opportunities for Rohingya and Host Community
Repatriation efforts are stalled because conditions are “not conducive” for refugee returns to Myanmar while the government of Bangladesh’s consistent message is that the “Rohingya must return” to Myanmar.
The Rohingya situation is a prolonged crisis that is likely to exceed the CDCS period and requires long-term strategic planning with coordinated international investments.
The Mission supports Rohingya refugees and host communities directly impacted by the Rohingya crisis, according to USAID.
In line with the Joint Response Plan’s strategic and sector priorities and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) mandate to provide food and nutrition assistance to refugee populations, USAID will continue to provide essential food assistance through an e-voucher system to Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
Given the multifaceted nature of the challenges facing the host communities, USAID will undertake economic growth and livelihood development interventions; natural resources management; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), with an emphasis on access to clean drinking water; and disaster risk reduction.
USAID will follow an integrated approach and will closely coordinate with other interventions in the area to maximize impact.
To address the long-term and emerging needs of both the Rohingya and host and impacted communities, USAID adopts the humanitarian, development and peace nexus to promote systemic collaboration with the GoB, donors, development and humanitarian assistance partners, CSOs, and nongovernmental organizations.
This coordination in programming will lead to improved humanitarian and development assistance that is better planned, funded, and delivered. Collaboration among stakeholders is essential to achieving efficient use of resources and sustainability of the Rohingya response, according to USAID.
Sampriti Bangladesh protests congressmen's letter to Biden
Sampriti Bangladesh, a social platform comprising prominent citizens, protested the letter sent by six United States congressmen to US President Joe Biden about the situation of minorities in Bangladesh for ‘containing untrue information’.
In a press release on Saturday, the organization said, “Propaganda is being carried out at home and abroad based on the aforementioned letters from congressmen. We are shocked by this dirty conspiracy to destroy the image of secular Bangladesh achieved at the cost of three million Bengalis’ blood.”
Read: Not aware of six Congressmen’s letter to Biden on Bangladesh: US Spokesperson
“How sensitive Sheikh Hasina herself is to minorities need not to say anything new. At the same time, we have been realizing the trust of minorities in her while working at the grassroots level,” the press release reads.
The propaganda being spread at home and abroad based on such false information is not only harmful to Bangladesh but also equal to disrespect and insult to the traditional culture of non-communal and harmony of Bangladesh and the Bengali nation, it said.
Read: Around 200 prominent Bangladeshi Americans say 6 US congressmen’s letter ignores BNP-Jamaat persecution of Hindus in 2001
We strongly condemn the well-planned propaganda based on the letter containing untrue information from U.S. Congressmen.