foreign-affairs
Expatriate Bangladeshis urged to represent cultural heritage of Bangladesh abroad
Bangladesh Ambassador in Lisbon Rezina Ahmed has urged the expatriate Bangladesh community to represent the country's cultural heritage abroad.
The ambassador, while celebrating Pahela Baisakh, called upon the members of the Bangladesh community to carry the spirit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Rabindranth, Nazrul, Lalon and more importantly good name of the country.
She said that Pahela Baishakh, or Bengali New Year, is one of the colorful and significant cultural festivals celebrated with great enthusiasm and vibrant mood across the country and abroad.
It marks the first day of the Bengali first month, 'Baishakh' of the Bengali Solar Calendar.
"On this day, Bangalees bid farewell to the old year and welcome the New Year. It is a day of our celebration regardless of class, gender or religion. Pahela Baishakh embodies the start of new things. This secular festival rejuvenates us with the light of new hope," said the envoy.
Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon celebrated “Pahela Baishakh” with great festivity and fervour. On this occasion, the chancery was decorated with beautifully drawn alpona (traditional graffiti), motifs, balloons, festoons, posters, flowers to showcase the Bengali culture which turned the embassy into a piece of Bangladesh.
About 200 Bangladeshi expatriates, diplomats from different Missions, dignitaries from host countries, representatives from the local government, foreign students, media activists, journalists and guests attended the programme, according to a message received here from the embassy.
All the members of the Mission, expatriate Bangladeshis participated the celebration of Pahela boishakh in traditional colorful attire.
The programme of the day began with the traditional Mangal Shovajatra (New Year Peace Rally) in which both expatriate Bangladesh community and foreign dignitaries took part with enthusiasm.
All the participants in the rally expressed their determination to make a peaceful and prosperous world free from wars and violence.
Later, ambassadors and foreign dignitaries were invited on the stage to address the audience saying ‘Shuvo Noboborsho’ in Bangla and in their own language.
The audience witnessed a colourful cultural show staged by the expatriate Bangladeshi artists.
The expatriate artists performed several dances and singers sang few songs.
The audience was enthralled by the brilliant dance performances and song renditions. Apart from that, many expatriates set up stalls displaying the traditional Bangladeshi cloths, handicrafts, Jamdhani and Monipuri Sarees and a wide range of traditional Bangladeshi foods including Panta Ilish.
Foreign guests and Bangladeshi expatriates expressed their happiness for organising such a colourful festival and enjoyed a day full of dance, music and food.
Pahela Baishakh revitalises a sense of patriotism, Bengali identity worldwide: Envoy in Canada
Bangladesh High Commissioner in Canada Khalilur Rahman has said Mangal Shovajatra promotes pluralism and secularism, fostering an environment of coexistence regardless of the differences of religions, castes or creeds.
Celebrating Pahela Baisakh at the mission, he underscored the festival's role as an antidote against religious extremism and intolerance, promoting unity and tolerance over division.
Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo celebrates Pahela Baishakh
The envoy noted that Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year, revitalizss a sense of patriotism and Bengali identity worldwide and energises the Bengali nation.
Khalilur Rahman said that Pahela Baishakh has evolved into a symbol of the non-communal Bengali tradition.
He highlighted the significance of UNESCO's recognition of the Pahela Baishakh Mangal Shovajatra as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of mankind in 2016, attributing it to the diplomatic efforts of the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh High Commission, Ottawa, Canada celebrated Pahela Baisakh and the Bengali New Year-1431, with great enthusiasm and fervor.
A special event, chaired by the high commissioner, took place at the auditorium of the Bangladesh High Commission.
The event was attended by High Commission officials and members of the Bangladeshi community living in Canada.
At the beginning of the event, officers of the High Commission read out the messages by the President and Prime Minister on the occasion of Pahela Baisakh and Bengali New Year-1431.
This was followed by the welcome address by the high commissioner.
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Following the high commissioner's address, attendees participated in a vibrant Mangal Shovajatra to celebrate Pahela Baisakh.
The event concluded with a cultural function featuring spontaneous performances by the Bangladeshi-Canadians.
Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo celebrates Pahela Baishakh
Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo organised a colourful programme on Sunday on the occasion of Bengali New Year 1431.
Embassy officials, their family members, and members of the Bangladeshi community in Japan participated in the event.
On the occasion of Bangla New Year, a 'Mangal Shovajatra' was brought out in the morning on the embassy premises.
At the end of the procession, Bangladesh's Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed wished the guests a Happy Bengali New Year.
In his welcome speech, the ambassador urged everyone to work to highlight the rich history, heritage, and culture of Bangladesh at home and abroad.
Later, a cultural function was organised in the Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Embassy with the participation of local Bangladeshi artists.
Bangladesh, Thailand nearing energy cooperation MOU: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Dhaka and Bangkok to increase energy cooperation is at an advanced stage.
“We hope the deal will be signed shortly. The cooperation in the energy sector will help increase the cooperation in the economic, industrial and social sector as well,” he told Thai Ambassador to Bangladesh, Makawadee Sumitmor, at his office in the Secretariat on Tuesday.
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The Thai envoy expressed her country's interest in investing in deep sea oil and gas exploration and also supplying LNG.
She requested the state minister for facilitating in this regard during the Prime Minister's visit to Thailand.
Bangladesh Film Archive, Getty Images sign MoU to preserve footages on Liberation War, Bangabandhu
Nasrul Hamid welcomed the Thai Ambassador and said that Bangladesh will encourage all kinds of investment in the energy sector.
“We welcome the interest of Thailand's PTT Global LNG Company Ltd. We give preference to trading companies and production companies in LNG supply”, he said.
Brazilian foreign minister visits Beximco's sustainable industrial park
A Brazilian delegation comprising Minister of Foreign Affairs Brazil Mauro Vieira accompanied by Sadia Faizunnesa, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Brazil visited Beximco’s Vertical Leeds Green Certified Industrial Park on Monday.
He took great interest in Beximco initiatives on sustainability, value addition and innovation using advanced technology, and original R&D as key drivers.
Brazilian Foreign Minister was very much impressed to see the production facilities and world latest machineries & technologies used by Beximco’s fully vertical state of the art Textiles, Garment Manufacturing, and World Largest Sustainable Washing Plant, reads a press release.
The Brazilian Foreign Minister took keen interest in Beximco`s disruptive technology initiatives in Genome/DNA Sequencing, Zero Carbon Bio Fuels, Track and Trace technology and traceability using Block Chain Technology and Artificial Intelligence.
Discussions were held on best ways to increase consumption of Brazilian Cotton in Bangladesh and export of RMG to Brazil.
Many areas were defined for lucrative collaboration between Bangladesh and Brazil.
Brazil thankful for Bangladesh’s substantive contribution to G20 discussions: Visiting Foreign Minister
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on Monday said global challenges are interconnected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism, reforms and international cooperation.
“In that spirit, Brazil’s G20 Presidency believes that the group should work towards a United Nations that is more effective in its purposes, while tackling main inequalities in its decision-making processes,” he said while delivering a lecture at Foreign Service Academy on priorities for the Brazilian presidency.
“We are thankful for the substantive contribution that Bangladesh has been providing to G20 discussions,”he said.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, among others, spoke at the programme.
The visiting Foreign Minister said the international community has already proven its ability to adapt and evolve the structures of global governance in various areas.
“The G20 itself, for instance, which was consolidated in the immediate aftermath of a global financial crisis, has proven to be a valuable framework for addressing new challenges in many areas. The time has come for the G20 to make its own contribution by creating appropriate conditions for a serious discussion on the current global governance structures,” he said.
As one of the global fora best placed to foster the solutions the world needs, Vieira said, the G20 can be an invaluable tool to garner further support for the necessary and overdue reform of multilateral governance.
In 52 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, this is the first time that a Brazilian Foreign Minister is visiting Bangladesh.
“My presence in Dhaka is a testimony to the importance we attach to our relations with Bangladesh, which have grown considerably in many areas, in tandem with the extraordinary economic leapfrog that Bangladesh has been enduring in recent years,” said the Brazilian Minister.
Brazil took over from India the presidency of the G20 on December 1, 2023. Under the leadership of President Lula, Brazil is proud to be the third in a sequence of four developing countries presiding over the group since 2022 (Indonesia, India, Brazil and, next year, South Africa).
In terms of priorities, Brazil has placed the topic of inequality, in all its dimensions, at the center of the G20’s agenda.
Under the motto “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet”, President Lula defined the following three general priorities for Brazil’s G20 Presidency: (1) social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty; (2) energy transitions and the promotion of sustainable development in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions; and (3) reform of global governance institutions.
Vieira said geopolitical tensions have recently amplified long-standing challenges. “Persistent hunger, poverty and inequality; armed conflicts with catastrophic humanitarian consequences; widespread setbacks in living standards; global inflation and debt vulnerabilities; high volatility in food and energy prices; and the climate crisis are among them.”
“While these crises affect us all, they do not affect us equally. Developing countries are the ones that bear the brunt of them. Even within countries, it is the poorest that always suffer the most,” he added.
Brazil believes that the G20 is one the forum that is particularly well placed to foster collective solutions for global challenges.
“Due to its combined share of the world’s population and GDP, as well as its diverse membership, the group has a unique and influential role to play in shaping a global agenda for a more equitable and sustainable future,” he said.
To fulfil that expectation, Brazil believes that the G20 must set ambitious goals and unlock the full potential of multilateral cooperation, he added.
Brazil believes that the G20 should explore the role of economy-wide platforms and a renewed engagement of the financial sector to achieve common goals under the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has confirmed that the world faces a climate emergency.
Vieira said humanity has only until the end of this decade to prevent the global temperature from rising beyond 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels, an outcome that would bear unacceptable risks to future generations, the ecosystems and infrastructure.
Without deep and extensive transformations in the way economies are structured and financial resources are mobilized and managed, humanity will struggle to adequately respond to the dangerous threats of climate change, he said.
By bringing together the world’s largest economies, which account for 3/4 of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the G20 can be a catalyst for partnerships, high-level coordination and new policy consensus, the Brazilian Foreign Minister said.
Earlier today, he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban.
"I was delighted to hear from her the high esteem she has for Brazil and for President Lula, which is reciprocal," said the Brazilian Foreign Minister.
Considering the similarities between President Lula and Prime Minister Hasina’s world views, policies and priorities, in particular their quest for development and social justice, conditions are set for the bilateral relations to upscale, he added.
Bangladesh Film Archive, Getty Images sign MoU to preserve footages on Liberation War, Bangabandhu
Bangladesh Film Archive under the Information Ministry and Getty Images, a visual media company of the United States, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collect and preserve footages on the Liberation War and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The MoU was signed on Friday at the Getty Images office in New York, said a media release of the ministry on Monday.
Dr Md Mofakkharul Iqbal, director of the project on “Collection and preservation of audio visual documents of the Liberation War from local and foreign sources and capacity building of Bangladesh Film Archive” and Arran Birchenough, Asia Pacific director (Tv and sales) of Getty Images, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.
Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Information Humayun Kabir Khandaker, officials from Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC and Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN in New York were present.
Brazilian FM Mauro Vieira pays tribute to Bangabandhu
After the declaration of independence by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the first hour of March 26, 1971, the news was circulated in different media of the world.
During the long nine months of the Liberation War, various international media published various pictures and news on the war.
Through this MoU, Getty Images will assist Bangladesh Film Archive in collecting and preserving these priceless documents, said the release.
Brazilian FM Mauro Vieira pays tribute to Bangabandhu
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Mauro Vieira on Sunday paid homage to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi 32.
He honored Bangabandhu's memory by laying a floral wreath at his portrait and observed a minute of silence in remembrance of all those who lost their lives on the tragic night of August 15, 1975.
Minister Vieira toured the museum and signed the Visitor's Book there.
Bangladesh always stands by people of Palestine: Environment Minister
The Brazilian Foreign Minister is leading a 29-member high officials and a robust trade delegation. This is his maiden visit to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh always stands by people of Palestine: Environment Minister
Bangladesh is and will always remain beside the freedom-seeking people of Palestine, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said on Sunday.
"The highest violation of human rights is in Palestine. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned Israel's aggression in Palestine. Bangladesh will stand by Palestine until the liberation of Palestine," he said.
He was speaking at a food distribution ceremony supported by organization of Islamic Cooperation, Embassies of OIC countries, Kuwait Society for Relief-Bangladesh Office and Society for Social and Technological Support as the chief guest here.
In this ceremony, the people of ward number 71 and 72 under Mugda police station of Dhaka-9 Constituency received Eid gifts as courtesy of Kuwait.
Saber also said that Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has contributed a lot to Islam in Bangladesh.
Decline of investigative journalism in China is a part of global phenomena : Academics
Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China (RUC) Di Zhang on Sunday said the decline of investigative journalism in China is a part of global phenomena.
He said this at a lecture on “From PGC to AIGC: Technology-driven Content Production Evolution in Chinese Media Sector and Its Social Influences” for journalists from all around the world organised by China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) in Beijing.
Journalists coming from different countries also shared their challenges and obstacles to the investigation journalism. Thirty percent journalists who participated in a short survey conducted by Namibian Journalist Uaueza Kanguatjivi shared that investigative journalism in their countries is also declining. 38 journalists were in attendance among those were journalists from Nepal, India, Seychelles, South Sudan, Bulgaria, Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Seirra Leone, Malawi, Botswana but to mention a few.
The lecture reviewed the development of professional generated content, user generated content and artificial intelligence content in the context of technological developments and social context in China. It also explored the socio-political consequences of new media in China.
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He started his presentation with a brief overview of the Chinese media landscape in his lecture and said state-controlled media outlets in China are more powerful than traditional Media.
"Historically, Chinese media has been predominantly state-controlled, with outlets like CCTV, People's Daily, and Xinhua News Agency are playing significant roles in disseminating information. Now, still important," he informed.
He also mentioned that print media such as newspapers and magazines have seen a decline in readership with the advent of digital media but continue to hold cultural and political significance.
He said developments in technology, such as artificial intelligence, big data, and 5G, have shaped the way content is produced, distributed, and consumed in China.
"The growing influence of Chinese media, both through content exports and platform expansions, has made China an important player in the global media industry, but not globalized as K-pops," he added.
Highlighting the Artificial Intelligence advancements in China, he said China's progress in Al research and development has been significant, with both the government and private sector investing heavily in the technology,
He showed some examples of AIGC in the Chinese media sector. In 2018, Xinhua introduced the world's first Al news anchor, capable of delivering news reports with synthesized speech and lifelike facial expressions while platforms like Toutiao (a news aggregation app) and Tmall (an e-commerce platform) utilize Al algorithms to generate personalized content recommendations and product descriptions.
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He also said Chinese researchers have developed Al algorithms capable of generating poetry and literature, some of which have been published in literary magazines and anthologies.
About the Al-generated advertising, the professor said companies have begun using Al- generated content for advertising campaigns, creating personalized ads that resonate with target audiences while leading Chinese marketing agency group BlueFocus announced in April that it will "fully and indefinitely" end the outsourcing of creative design, copywriting, planning and programming, and interim employment.
He also commented that the use of Al in content creation raises questions about authenticity, authorship, and the potential for misinformation or manipulation.
The professor earned his doctoral degree in mass communication from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.