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PM Hasina’s upcoming visit to Thailand to open new windows of cooperation: MoFA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay an official visit to Bangkok, Thailand from April 24 to 29 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Srettha Thavisin.
The scheduled bilateral visit of the prime minister will be the first-ever visit at the level of Head of Government from Bangladesh to Thailand since establishment of diplomatic relations, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
The visit is significant for both Bangladesh and Thailand as it will open new windows of cooperation between the two friendly countries, MoFA said.
The PM would lead a high level delegation which includes a number of ministers, advisers, secretaries and senior officials of the government.
Marina Tabassum named in TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People for 2024
Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman will accompany the prime minister during the visit, a senior official told UNB.
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak and State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu will also be part of the Bangladesh delegation, he said.
On April 26, PM Hasina will be formally received by her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin while a ceremonial guard of honor will be accorded to her.
On the same day, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin at the Government House.
During the visit, the prime minister will have a Royal audience of Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand at the Palace.
Hasina is also scheduled to attend a state lunch to be hosted by her Thai counterpart in her honour.
A number of MoUs and agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, according to the MoFA.
PM Hasina is scheduled to attend the 80th Session of the Commission for UNESCAP.
She will deliver a speech at UNESCAP on April 25. On the same day, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjabana will call on the prime minister.
Guided by the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the eightieth session will be an opportunity to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on leveraging digital innovation for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
FOC: Dhaka, Kathmandu for operationalisation of BBIN MVA framework to boost trade, connectivity
The session will bring together government leaders and ministers from across Asia and the Pacific and other key stakeholders to discuss how digital innovation can more inclusively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across multiple disciplines.
Moreover, participants will be able to identify opportunities to fully unleash the transformative potential of digital innovations and discuss pathways to strengthen their contribution to sustainable development, said the organizers.
A digital innovation fair will provide space to engage with a broad range of partners and stakeholders showcasing digital innovations that are already contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across the region.
Asia and the Pacific is uniquely placed to leverage digital technologies to overcome sustainable development challenges.
Already, the region is recognized as a dynamic hub for digitally driven innovation fueled by pioneering technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Finance, GovTech, and the Internet of Things.
Yet to encourage further ingenuity and tap digital innovation to bolster the huge collective effort required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the region needs a plan.
Marina Tabassum named in TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People for 2024
Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum has been named in influential US weekly TIME magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world for 2024. Tabassum was named in the Innovators section of the list for her commitment to sustainable design that “prioritises local cultures and values, as well as the perils faced by our shared planet.”
The citation for Tabassum, written for TIME by Sarah Whiting, dean of the Harvard School for Design, says: “Tabassum’s altruism even extends to buildings themselves. She cares for her creations as creatures partaking in the resources of our earth: describing her Bait Ur Rouf Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which won the prestigious Aga Khan Award, she said a building “has to be able to breathe without artificial aids.” Elsewhere in the country, which faces increased flood risks due to climate change, she has developed houses that are cost-effective and easy to move—clearly, buildings shouldn’t just breathe; they should avoid getting their feet wet. While she practices very locally, she teaches, lectures, and is recognized internationally, modeling architecture not as an individual signature but as a collective Esperanto.”
Athens Conference: FM Hasan calls for responsible, sustainable ocean management
Tabassum's work was previously honoured with the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture and with the Soane Medal by the American Academy of Arts and Letters Awards in 2021.
She was also named as the winner of the Millennium Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lisbon Architecture Triennale in 2022.
Tabassum is the principal architect of Marina Tabassum Architects, which she founded in 2005. Previously she was at URBANA, which she co-founded in 1995, shortly after graduating from BUET in 1994.
She broke into the limelight with her design for the Bait ur Rauf Mosque in Abdullahpur, that won her the Aga Khan Award, and pioneered a new generation of architects in embracing indigenous design principles for mosques, distinguished by the lack of domes, the use of plinths, the earthen palette, and the intelligent, at times bewitching use of light streaming in through perforations on the roof and walls.
Read more: 'Architecture is truly global, can also be deeply local'
Historic Mujibnagar Day observed at Bangladesh Embassy in Washington
The historic Mujibnagar Day was observed at Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Wednesday, recalling the ceremonial oath-taking of the first government of independent Bangladesh on 17th April in 1971.
The day's programmes commenced with placing of a floral wreath by Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Corner of the embassy.
‘Mujibnagar Day’ observed by Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei
Officials and employees of the Mission were present during the time.
Later, the messages issued on the occasion by President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were read out by Minister (Commerce) Md. Salim Reza and First Secretary Wahiduzzaman Noor at the Bangabandhu Auditorium.
Afterwards, a documentary -- “Mujibnagar: The First Capital of Bangladesh” -- was screened which was followed by a seminar highlighting the significance of the day.
Taking part in the seminar titled “Mujibnagar Government in the Emergence of Bangladesh”, Ambassador Imran paid tributes to Bangabandhu, and four national leaders -- Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman -- who successfully led the nation’s nine-month war of independence in absence of the great leader.
The ambassador described the Mujibnagar Day as a glorious and memorable day of the country's history, and Mujibnagar as a symbol of heroics of the Bengali nation.
He said the Mujibnagar Government and independence of Bangladesh are tied to the same thread, and Bangladesh attained incredible achievements in all sectors in continuation of the success of the Mujibnagar Government.
Bangladesh to introduce drone technology to assess crop losses
Counsellor (Political) Arifa Rahman Ruma presented the keynote paper at the seminar and discussed in detail the background and importance of the historic day. The day's programmes concluded with offering a special prayer seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation, the four national leaders and three million martyrs of the War of Liberation as well as continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation. First Secretary Ataur Rahman conducted the programs.
Athens Conference: FM Hasan calls for responsible, sustainable ocean management
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has stressed the need for responsible and sustainable ocean management at the high-level panel of Foreign Ministers in the "9th Our Ocean Conference" in Athens on Wednesday.
He also pointed the need for adopting a holistic approach to balance between sustainable management of the ocean for environmental conservation and socioeconomic development of people living in the proximity of the ocean.
Minister Hasan highlighted the initiatives taken by Bangladesh, a country with long Maritime border and Maritime history, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure sustainable ocean management and utilization of maritime resources to uplift the socioeconomic condition of the coastal population.
The Foreign Minister also called upon the world community to ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty and allocate funds for the restoration of biodiversity of the Oceans as about 10 billion USD was committed by various countries for overall development of ecosystems and green shipping.
Foreign Ministers of Greece, Costa Rica, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe also made intervention and made national commitments at this conference concluding day panel discussion.
FOC: Dhaka, Kathmandu for operationalisation of BBIN MVA framework to boost trade, connectivity
Bangladesh and Nepal have emphasised the operationalisation of the (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) framework to contribute to the individual country’s economy not only by expanding trade and connectivity, but also by creating more opportunity to promote people-to-people contacts.
Bangladesh also emphasised the expeditious conclusion of tripartite power agreement among Bangladesh-India-Nepal soon, which will help Bangladesh to import power from Nepal, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The issues were discussed at the third round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Nepal held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
During the consultations, Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, while Nepali delegation was led by Sewa Lamsal, Foreign Secretary of Nepal. Ambassadors of both countries and other senior officials attended the meeting.
During the FOC, the whole gamut of bilateral relations was reviewed.
Both the foreign secretaries expressed satisfaction over the excellent bilateral relations that exist between Bangladesh and Nepal.
They discussed all the major issues of mutual interests and agreed to promote cooperation encompassing all sectors, especially trade and commerce, transit and connectivity, power and energy sector, tourism, culture and education.
The Bangladesh foreign secretary thanked the government of Nepal for allocating land for the construction of Monastery in Lumbini.
He added that it would be a milestone between "our relations and enhance people-to-people contacts between Bangladesh and Nepal in the days ahead."
Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal stressed the exploration of the untapped potential in economic, cultural and educational areas and proposed to establish meaningful collaborative partnership including in the private sector.
She mentioned that Nepal would like to pursue more trade and investment cooperation with Bangladesh.
She urged Bangladeshi side to explore investment opportunities in Nepal including in hydropower sector.
She also requested the Government of Bangladesh to eliminate the existing Other Duties and Charges (ODCs) levied on Nepali products being exported to Bangladesh.
The Nepali foreign secretary emphasized the exchange of visits at different levels.
Both sides discussed regional issues of mutual interest.
They also underscored the necessity of revitalising SAARC and strengthening BIMSTEC for promoting regional cooperation.
They also agreed to cooperate with each other at various multilateral forums, especially at the UN to pursue common interests especially in the areas of LDC graduation, poverty alleviation, climate change and safety and security of migrant workers.
An MoU between Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh and Foreign Service Institute of Nepal was also signed by the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries.
In the afternoon, Masud Bin Momen paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar.
During the meeting, discussions were held on issues of mutual interest between Nepal and Bangladesh.
The next FOC will take place in Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.
Sweet Diplomacy: Ambassador Haas celebrates Cinnabon's arrival in Bangladesh with Bun-Buying Bonanza!
The US Embassy in Dhaka, alongside a delegation of guests, raised a cinnamon bun in a delectable display of cross-cultural culinary commerce!.
Nestled within the vibrant heart of Banani across from the Sheraton Hotel, the tantalizing scent of freshly baked buns wafted through the air, beckoning curious onlookers and seasoned dessert enthusiasts alike.
With a playful nod to the ambassador's penchant for diplomatic finesse, the ribbon-cutting ceremony unfolded amidst a chorus of cinnamon-infused excitement.
"Ambassadors often find themselves in sticky situations, but this is one I welcome joining in!" said Ambassador Peter Haas, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he ordered lots of iconic swirls of Cinnabon's signature treats.
The ambassador's presence at the launch underscored more than just a culinary affair -- it marked a significant stride in strengthening bilateral ties between the United States and Bangladesh.
"Cinnabon's expansion into this market not only tantalizes taste buds but also bolsters our trade and investment relationship," he said, his smile as warm as the gooey centers of the freshly baked buns.
India’s FS Vinay Kwatra likely to be in Dhaka on April 20
Among the guests were John Fay, Foreign Commercial Service Officer, and Stephen Ibelli, Public Diplomacy Counselor of the U.S. Embassy, who echoed sentiments of excitement for the growing presence of American franchises in Bangladesh.
"Cinnabon joins a growing number of American franchises interested in operating in Bangladesh," noted Fay, emphasizing the role of American business interested in investing in Bangladesh fostering cultural exchange and economic cooperation.
With a wink and a nod to the future, the ambassador sealed the day's celebrations with a promise of more delectable delights to come.
"I look forward to seeing other famous American brands bring new options to Bangladesh diners and investing in the market," he declared, his words resonating with the promise of sweet success and savory partnerships on the horizon.
UNESCAP: PM Hasina to visit Thailand next week
As the aroma of cinnamon lingered in the air, Nilufa Heights on Kemal Ataturk Avenue stood as a beacon of gastronomic delight, inviting all who passed by to embark on a journey of indulgence and camaraderie, one irresistible bite at a time.
India’s FS Vinay Kwatra likely to be in Dhaka on April 20
Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra is likely to pay an official visit to Bangladesh on Saturday to discuss and review the entire gamut of bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Apart from his bilateral talks with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen, the Indian foreign secretary is due to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, a diplomatic source told UNB.
The visit is part of high-level exchanges between India and Bangladesh and to review progress in two countries' bilateral cooperation agenda.
However, details of his visit are yet to be known.
The government of India in March extended Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra's tenure by six months. Kwatra assumed charge as India’s foreign secretary on 1 May, 2022 and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1988.
Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held in New Delhi on 24 November 2023.
FOC is an institutional dialogue mechanism between the two foreign secretaries to review the entire gamut of bilateral relationship.
UNESCAP: PM Hasina to visit Thailand next week
Both sides in bilateral forums usually discuss comprehensively a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people to people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India is planned after the conclusion of the neighbouring country’s national election, which is the world's largest democratic exercise, spanning seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the vote count set for June 4.
Pre-election surveys suggest a strong showing for the coalition led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely anticipated to secure re-election.
"Prime Minister's (Sheikh Hasina) India visit will definitely take place. However, it will take place after the election in India," FM Hasan said recently.
He said it is not yet discussed at the official level when the visit will exactly take place.
In January, Modi extended warm congratulations to PM Hasina on her electoral victory, expressing hopes for the continued strengthening of the historically close ties between India and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, Greece vow to further strengthen bilateral relations
The last bilateral engagement between the two prime ministers occurred during the G-20 Leaders Summit in September 2023, where Bangladesh was the guest country.
PM Modi is expected to extend invitations to South Asian and BIMSTEC country leaders for his swearing-in ceremony, fostering regional cooperation.
UNESCAP: PM Hasina to visit Thailand next week
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave for Bangkok, Thailand on April 24 to attend the eightieth session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) which will be held from April 22 to 26 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman will accompany the prime minister during the visit, a senior official told UNB.
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak and State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu will also be part of the Bangladesh delegation, he said.
Dhaka-Delhi relationship has to be nurtured, kept moving forward with fresh impetus: Shringla
Discussions are underway to add a bilateral component of the visit which might see signing of a half a dozen bilateral cooperation documents, said a diplomatic source.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to return home on April 27.
Guided by the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the eightieth session will be an opportunity to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on leveraging digital innovation for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The session will bring together government leaders and ministers from across Asia and the Pacific and other key stakeholders to discuss how digital innovation can more inclusively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across multiple disciplines.
Moreover, participants will be able to identify opportunities to fully unleash the transformative potential of digital innovations and discuss pathways to strengthen their contribution to sustainable development, said the organizers.
A digital innovation fair will provide space to engage with a broad range of partners and stakeholders showcasing digital innovations that are already contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across the region.
Asia and the Pacific is uniquely placed to leverage digital technologies to overcome sustainable development challenges.
Bangladesh, Thailand nearing energy cooperation MOU: Nasrul Hamid
Already, the region is recognized as a dynamic hub for digitally driven innovation fueled by pioneering technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Finance, GovTech, and the Internet of Things. Yet to encourage further ingenuity and tap digital innovation to bolster the huge collective effort required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the region needs a plan.
Bangladesh, Greece vow to further strengthen bilateral relations
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has requested Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis to encourage Greek businesses to import state of the art quality Bangladeshi items and urged him to facilitate the exports from Bangladesh.
The Greek Foreign Minister agreed on the need to enhance bilateral trade where there remains huge untapped potentials and stressed on the need to find a suitable strategy to help grow bilateral trade and investment, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister Hassan Mahmud and his Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis vowed to forge bilateral cooperation in different areas including migration and mobility, trade and investment, shipping, manpower and recruitment, development of renewable alternation energy infrastructure during a bilateral meeting held on Tuesday morning in the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens on the sidelines of the 9th Our Ocean Conference.
They also expressed satisfaction at the continuous cooperation and excellent bilateral relations between the two nations.
The Greek Foreign Minister also cordially accepted the invitation of Bangladesh Foreign Minister to visit Dhaka and mentioned that the visit can be a good option to inaugurate the Greek Diplomatic Mission there.
Earlier in the discussion, he assured the Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud that opening a Diplomatic Mission in Dhaka is a priority for the Greek government.
Foreign Minister Hassan thanked the Greek government for legalizing more than 10,000 Bangladeshi nationals who were living in Greece under the MoU on Migration and Mobility and called for smooth implementation of the second part of the MoU.
The Greek Foreign Minister stated that Greece prefers recruiting Bangladeshi professionals for their hard work and law abiding nature.
Greece will recruit a good number of Bangladeshi workers for its agriculture, tourism and hospitality and construction sector in the coming days.
Besides two ministers also agreed that meaningful cooperation between the two countries in the shipping sector can create a win-win situation as they complement each other and also agreed on building the legal framework for fruitful cooperation in the shipping sector.
Dhaka-Delhi relationship has to be nurtured, kept moving forward with fresh impetus: Shringla
Former Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said Bangladesh-India relationship is a relationship that has to be nurtured and kept moving forward through continuous cooperation.
“The relationship is not just moving forward, it is growing by leaps and bounds. We have to continue maintaining the momentum of the relations with fresh impetus,” he said while responding to a question in a podcast.
Shringla who served as High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, joined Pratim Ranjan Bose to discuss global politics and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy.
Pratim Ranjan Bose is a media commentator, researcher, and consultant. He writes newspaper columns and appears on national TV.
Shringla, Chief Coordinator of India’s G20 Presidency in 2022-23, said Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have developed a very good relationship which is referred to as golden chapter for Dhaka-Delhi ties and two countries have addressed most of the irritants of the relations.
Responding to a question of the possibility of fresh Indian credit, he said every country has credit absorption capacity.
Shringla said India-Bangladesh relations are in a satisfactory stage and must move forward in every aspect including the line of credit. “It is very important to work closely for implementation of the projects.”
He appreciated PM Modi’s Neighbourhood First policy and highlighted that 50% of Indian line of credit is directed to the neighbourhood. “You cannot expect to prosper and develop if your neighbors are not doing the same.”
Cooperation during Covid-19 through sharing vaccines, exemption from recent ban on onion exports and trade facilitations are giving dividends, said the former Indian diplomat.
He said electricity cooperation with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh will flourish and an under-sea electricity cable to Sri Lanka can bring long term stability to the island nation.
Responding to a question on reported “Boycott India” campaigns in the Maldives, Shringla said ties are too strong to be disturbed by *Boycott India* campaigns.
“I can tell you very safely that people of these two countries by and large have a very strong affinity and positive outlook,” he said, highlighting the engagement through tourism, medical care and education sector.
Shringla said the people to people relationship is the most vital PM Modi’s policy is very broad and foresighted when it comes to neighbours.
Asked about joining politics, Shringla said he is not formally in politics but he is happy to support those efforts for his country under the guidance of PM Modi and noted that India witnessed enormous transformation and achievements.
He said India wants a multipolar world with it being one of the poles. India surpassed all expectations under Modi and is facing resistance both from outside and inside but ready to move on,” he said.
Shringla also shed light on India-US relations noting that there are remarkable achievements. “US companies started investing heavily in India. The ties reached a stage where it will remain unaffected.”
Indo-Pacific and QUAD are very important to the USA and the cooperation will increase, he observed.
Shringla said India is committed to ensuring security of maritime trade through the Gulf of Aden and Suez.
He said India’s role in providing maritime security will rise in the western Indian ocean and perhaps even in the eastern Indian ocean.
“We have to display more robust participation in global security. Today we have been more proactive. Those efforts will continue. We have to ensure that we are part of the solution,” Shringhla said,m adding that, “We hope to see there will be greater stability.”