Bangladesh has welcomed US President Joe Biden’s decision to rejoin the 2015 Paris agreement.

The new administration is likely to pursue a more ambitious environmental agenda, including global warming.

Bangladesh also appreciated Biden’s promise to put the US back on a track of net-zero emissions by 2050 and his call to re-establish the US as a global climate leader.

Also read: UN, partners express regret over US departure from Paris climate accord

On June 1, 2017, former president Donald Trump announced that his country would exit the accord and re-enter only on terms that were “fair to the US.”

Bangladesh, as the current president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Vulnerable Twenty Group (V20), plays a leading role in climate discourses and focuses on the urgent need to strengthen climate action and adaptation efforts by enhancing nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Thursday.

Also read: US tells UN it is pulling out of Paris climate deal

The country hoped that the US move to rejoin the global climate accord and reprioritisation of climate change issues will encourage other leading emitters to cut global emissions and invest in clean energy.

On re-entering the 2015 Paris Agreement, the US government also acknowledged that the agreement created an unprecedented framework for global action to avoid planetary warming and to build global resilience, MoFA said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday thanked her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for sending the Oxford vaccine produced in India as a gift for Bangladesh.

“I’m thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending the vaccine as a gift,” she said, adding that the procured vaccine will come soon from India as planned.

The Prime Minister said this while virtually addressing an international conference titled ‘Celebrating the 100 Years of the University of Dhaka: Reflections from the Alumni – International and National’ on the occasion of the university’s birth centenary with a theme, 'Achieving Sustainable Goals and Building a University Suitable for Fourth Industrial Revolution and Creating Skilled Human Resources'.

The Prime Minister hoped that the vaccine that Bangladesh procured from India will arrive by January 25-26.

She said they have already planned how they will proceed with the vaccine. "We’ve taken all the steps to face the Covid-19 situation in the country," the Prime Minister said.

She hoped that Bangladesh will get rid of the Covid-19. "That's what we expect."

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni addressed the opening ceremony as a special gust while prominent economist Rehman Sobhan presented the keynote speech, held at the university’s Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban with Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.

DU Pro-VC (Academic) ASM Maksud Kamal gave the vote of thanks while Pro-VC (Administration) Mohammad Samad read out the citation on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Earlier, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami handed over the Covid-19 vaccine to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque at a ceremony at State guesthouse Padma on Thursday afternoon. State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam was, among others, present.

The Foreign Minister said the arrival of 20 lakh doses of Oxford vaccine from India shows the sign of strong relations and goodwill between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

“It’s a historic day. They’ve (Hasina and Modi) achieved such a goodwill and strong relations! It shows the sign of that bonding,” he said after receiving the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine as gift from India.

The Foreign Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from the day one laid emphasis on partnership and collaboration in dealing with the Covid-19 situation.

Also read: Vaccine gift a sign of Hasina-Modi strong ties: FM

“Today’s gift from India is the sign of partnership, cooperation and collaboration,” Dr Momen said adding that collaboration, cooperation and partnership is very essential for each country in the world.

He said many developed countries are yet to get the vaccine and Bangladesh is one of its earliest recipients in the world.

Reiterating the highest priority India attaches to Bangladesh under India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 17 assured that vaccines would be made available to Bangladesh as and when produced in India.

Both Prime Minister Hasina and her Indian counterpart Modi also noted the ongoing bilateral collaboration between the private sectors in this area.

Referring to Bloomberg media, Foreign Minister Dr Momen and State Minister Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh have become number one in terms of Covid-19 management in South Asia.

Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar tweeted on "VaccineMaitri", saying that India reaffirms the highest priority to its relations with Bangladesh.

Also read: Refrain from spreading rumours, politics over vaccine: Health Minister

It is part of commitment made at the highest level -- Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- and as part of ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, said Indian High Commissioner Doraiswami.

He said Bangladesh and India will fight the disease together as friends.

Another 50 lakh doses of the vaccine from India are expected to arrive within this month.

Some 50 lakh doses of the vaccine are scheduled to arrive in each of the next six months as per the agreement.

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan on Thursday recognised the enormous opportunities that Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) offers to partners and to move bilateral relations forward.

Many Turkish companies are keen to invest in Bangladesh as it offers attractive incentives for foreign investors, he said.

They are assessing possibilities of collaboration with the PPP Authority in health sector, energy, construction industry and mega infrastructures that are aligned with objectives of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

He also proposed signing a memorandum of understanding between PPP Authority and Turkish Contractors Association.

Turan met PPPA CEO Sultana Afroz and discussed the issues.

Read Also: Bangladesh a rising star in South Asia: Turkish FM

He was accompanied by Kenan Kalayci, Deputy Commercial Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka.

Sultana Afroz acknowledged the development assistance of the Turkish government, especially to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh who were forced to flee from ethnic and religious persecution in their homeland Myanmar.

She expressed her gratitude to First Lady Emine Erdogan who visited and provided relief at the Rohingyas camps in 2017.

Read Also: PM seeks Turkey’s involvement in ensuring Rohingya repatriation

She was also looking forward to the visit of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this year to attend the “D-8 Summit” and be part of the celebration of “50 years of Independence” and “Mujib Borsho.”

Sultana Afroz said Bangladesh would continue to grow under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina especially in the PPP Programme.

There has been a growing interest in Bangladesh and Turkey to strengthen economic partnership between the two countries, said a media release.

Also read: Turkey with Bangladesh in dealing with Rohingya crisis: Envoy

Turkish investors are keen to invest in liquified petroleum in Bangladesh and a modern hospital among other projects. A presentation outlining the roles, responsibilities and achievements of PPPA was given.

PPPA is supporting projects in various sectors, such as transportation, tourism, health, housing and more.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has congratulated Joe Biden, the 46th president of the US.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen termed Biden's win as a victory for democracy.

Talking to reporters at State guesthouse Padma after receiving COVID-19 vaccine from India as gift, the minister said they are very delighted to see Biden as the US President.

Also read: Biden takes the helm as president: 'Democracy has prevailed'

Dr Momen said the Biden administration returned to the Paris Agreement which is good news for Bangladesh.

"You know that our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the President of Climate Vulnerable Forum. We thanked Joe Biden specially," said the Foreign Minister.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said the arrival of 20 lakh doses of Oxford vaccine from India shows the sign of strong relations and goodwill between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart NarendraModi.

“It’s a historic day. They’ve (Hasina and Modi) achieved such a goodwill and strong relations! It shows the sign of that bonding,” he said after receiving the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine as gift from India.

Also read: 35 lakh doses of vaccines due Thursday from India: FM

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami handed over the Covid-19 vaccine to Foreign Minister and Health Minister ZahidMaleque at a ceremony at State guesthouse Padma on Thursday afternoon. State Minister for Foreign Affairs M ShahriarAlam was, among others, present.

The Foreign Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from the day one laid emphasis on partnership and collaboration in dealing with the Covid-19 situation.

“Today’s gift from India is the sign of partnership, cooperation and collaboration,” DrMomen said adding that collaboration, cooperation and partnership is very essential for each country in the world.

Also read: No worries, Bangladesh will get vaccine timely: FM

He said many developed countries are yet to get the vaccine and Bangladesh is one of the earliest recipients of vaccine in the world.

Reiterating the highest priority India attaches to Bangladesh under India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, Prime Minister NarendraModi on December 17 assured that vaccines would be made available to Bangladesh as and when produced in India.

Both Prime Minister Hasina and her Indian counterpart Modi also noted the ongoing bilateral collaboration between the private sectors in this area.

Also read:1st Consignment of Covid-19 vaccines reaches Dhaka airport

Asked whether the Foreign Minister will get vaccinated, he said since he is elected by people, he would prefer to save their lives first.

The Foreign Minister thanked the Health Ministry for managing the situation though there has been negative campaign centering Covid-19 situation and its death toll. “We remain connected and are working together.”

He also thanked the people of India and the Indian government for sending the vaccine as a gift.

Referring to Bloomberg media, Foreign Minister DrMomen and State Minister ShahriarAlam said Bangladesh have become number one in terms of Covid-19 management in South Asia. 

Also read:20 lakh doses of Oxford vaccine reach Dhaka as gift from India

Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar tweeted on "VaccineMaitri", saying that India reaffirms the highest priority to its relations with Bangladesh.

It is part of commitment made at the highest level -– Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- and as part of ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, said Indian High Commissioner Doraiswami.

He said Bangladesh and India will fight the disease together as friends.

Another 50 lakh doses of the vaccine from India are expected to arrive within this month.

Also read: Modi to get Covid vaccine in next phase of India's mega 

Some 50 lakh doses of vaccine are scheduled to arrive in each of the next six months as per the agreement.