parlament
Chinese Ambassador meets Saima Wazed
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Sunday met WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Saima Wazed.
The two sides had in-depth exchange on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the field of health.
Saima Wazed started her visits to WHO SEARO Member States, kicking-off with a trip to Bangladesh.
She met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently.
"We've got a busy few days of meetings planned, and I'm glad I got to start by meeting a leader I know well," she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, after her meeting with PM Hasina.
We envision Center for China Studies as a bridge connecting Bangladesh, China, S Asia and world: Ambassador Yao Wen
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Sunday expressed his optimism that the newly launched Center for China Studies will anchor itself in Bangladesh, adopt a South Asia-centric approach and have a global outlook.
"We envision the Center for China Studies as a bridge connecting China and Bangladesh, South Asia and the world, making substantive contributions to mutual understanding, cooperation, and peaceful development," he said.
At the launching ceremony of the Center for China Studies of Dhaka University, Prof. Dr. A. S. M. Maksud Kamal, Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka, Vice Chairman of the Academic Board of the Center for China Studies, Chen Dongxiao, President of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, Chairman of the Academic Board of the Center for China Studies, and representatives from Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, East China Normal University, Yunnan University, Tongji University were present.
More than 400 people from the Bangladeshi government, political parties, universities, enterprises, media and international organizations, as well as Chinese representatives participated.
The Ambassador extended warm congratulations on the establishment of the Center for China Studies and said that the establishment of the Center for China Studies is the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during their bilateral meeting in Johannesburg last August.
Russia keen to recruit skilled Bangladeshi workers in shipbuilding industry: State Minister
Russia is keen to recruit skilled workers from Bangladesh for its shipbuilding industry, State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury said on Sunday.
He shared this information with the journalists after a meeting with the delegation of Russia's Livadiya Shipyard at the secretariat.
At that time, the Secretary of the Shipping Ministry, Ruhul Amin, along with others, were present.
The State Minister highlighted the longstanding relationship between Bangladesh and Russia, expressing that sending workers to Russia would further strengthen the ties between the two countries.
"We are eager to provide skilled manpower to Russia, particularly in the shipbuilding industry and various other sectors," said the state minister.
The state minister said that Russia wants to hire skilled manpower in various fields including the shipping industry.
In the first phase, they want to recruit 60 workers. Later, they will take more skilled manpower in phases.
“Russia will take care of accommodation and language learning of the workers,” he said.
Independence Day event: Russian House honours freedom fighters, highlights Moscow's key role in emergence of Bangladesh
Russian House in Dhaka (formerly the Russian Cultural Centre), in cooperation with the National Museum and the Liberation War Affairs Academy, organized an event dedicated to Bangladesh's 53rd anniversary of independence, ahead of Independence Day on March 26.
At the beginning of the ceremony, a minute's silence was observed to pay respect to the memory of all the martyrs of the Great War of Liberation and to express sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the tragic terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22.
Twenty-six freedom fighters from different districts of Bangladesh were felicitated with commemorative gifts and certificates in the programme.
The freedom fighters expressed gratitude and thanks to the organizers for this honor.
In his welcome speech, the director of Russian House in Dhaka Pavel Dvoychenkov highlighted the historically friendly role of Russia in the great liberation war of Bangladesh and the overall development of post-war Bangladesh.
Land Minister Narayan Chandra Chand and the Director General of the Bangladesh National Museum Md. Kamruzzaman gratefully recalled the humanitarian and economic assistance in the reconstruction of war-torn Bangladesh, including the struggle for independence of Bangladesh.
They also said that the independence of Bangladesh would never have been possible without the cooperation of Russia.
UN Commission calls for feminist financing for women’s economic justice
Women leaders at the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) have highlighted the urgent need for feminist financing to advance gender equality and women's economic justice and rights.
The session, which concluded on Friday, emphasized the importance of increasing investments in gender equality to ensure sustainable development and reduce women’s poverty and violence against women globally.
During the twelve-day session, women leaders and civil society members focused on robust measures to strengthen financing, institutions, and social protection systems with a gender perspective. The UN Secretary-General's report to the Commission highlighted that 10.3 percent of women currently live in extreme poverty, underscoring the need for accelerated progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
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In such a situation, women's economic empowerment was a central theme at CSW68, with discussions highlighting its crucial role in enhancing autonomy, security, and sociopolitical lives. Closing all gender employment gaps could lead to a nearly 20 percent increase in GDP per capita and the creation of almost 300 million jobs by 2035 through investments in care services.
At CSW68, Generation Equality hosted an event highlighting feminist financing and calling for collective action for women’s economic justice.
“If we are not ambitiously proactive, women’s economic empowerment and autonomy will be continuously stalled,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.
She underscored the need for governments to prioritise gender-responsive financing and gender equality, especially in light of recent cuts in official development assistance to support women's rights organisations and movements.
“Women’s economic empowerment is not only critical to pave the way for individual freedoms,” said Sofia Calltorp, Sweden’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, “it is essential to many of the global and domestic challenges we face today, and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
“May we be the generation that will push for funding to come,” said FEMNET Executive Director Memory Kachambwa. “Funding that is trust-based, flexible, multi-year, and sustainable—and feminist funding models that actively listen and respond, with conviction and action.”
Some other female leaders opined that expanding social protection programmes and services, such as childcare, parental leave benefits, and pensions, can help significantly reduce women's poverty and improve their access to paid work. However, only 26.5 percent of women globally have comprehensive social security coverage, highlighting the need for increased investment in this area.
Dhaka, Delhi cooperation must continue: Hasan Mahmud
Criticizing BNP’s call to boycott Indian products, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said the cooperation between Bangladesh and India must be maintained in the greater interest of the people.
“India is a friendly country to Bangladesh. India stood beside us during our War of Liberation in 1971. Our relationship with India is multifaceted. We share borders with India. We are supportive to each other,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question.
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said they need to ensure further development and progress in the region through cooperation with India. “Maintaining a warm relationship with India, we have to change the fate of the people.”
The Foreign Minister wanted to know why there were such boycott calls from the BNP during Ramadan and ahead of the biggest festival – Eid. “
He reiterated that the main objective of BNP's call to boycott Indian products is to destabilise the country's market and increase prices of essentials so that people suffer.
"You will eat onions that come from India, your leader will wear sarees from India, your field-level female leaders will also wear Indian sarees, you will eat iftar that has beef that comes from India, you will go to India for medical treatment, and you call for boycott of Indian products — these are nothing but hypocrisy. The real objective of BNP is to increase the price of products by destabilising the market in the country," Hasan said in Chattogram on Saturday.
The foreign minister said that BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has burnt his shawl along with those who called for a boycott of Indian products. "Actually, I don't know if the shawl was bought from India or from Bangabazar."
Responding to a question regarding legal steps by BNP against Hasan for his remarks, the foreign minister said, “Let them take legal steps, I am ready to face that. In fact it is not a legal issue.”
Bangladesh to provide 190 acres of land in Kurigram for Bhutanese investors; discussion to import hydropower underway
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.
He said Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.
"We are in discussion to that end," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
He said Bhutan has a potential of producing 25,000 megawatts of hydropower.
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh will also import hydropower from Nepal and things are settled regarding that initiative.
Hasan said Bangladesh will construct a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity.
He also briefed about the visit of the Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Three new MoUs will be signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan while another MoU on cultural exchange will be renewed, said the Foreign Minister.
The new MoUs will be on establishing a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu, Specialized Economic Zone in Kurigram and technological cooperation consumers’ rights protection.
The King, along with Bhutanese Foreign, Health, Industry and Commerce Ministers and the Bhutanese Queen, is scheduled to arrive on Monday morning on a four-day visit demonstrating the strong relations that Bangladesh and Bhutan have developed steadily since 1971.
"We have multifaceted relations with Bhutan," Minister Hasan said, adding that there is scope for boosting trade through transit and signing preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Bhutan.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and the First Lady will receive the King amid gun salute and guard of honour.
The King is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10 am on Monday by a special flight, a senior official told UNB.
This is going to be the first VVIP visit to Bangladesh after the formation of new government following January 7 national election.
After the ceremony at the airport, he will go to Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On Monday afternoon, the Bhutanese King will have a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office. They will have a one-to-one meeting.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will meet the King at his place of residence the same day before the meeting with the Prime Minister.
On Tuesday, the King will visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar.
The King will also visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
He will visit Bangabhaban where he will be received by the president and the first lady.
The King will have a meeting with the president at 4:30 pm on Tuesday.
The president will host iftar and dinner in honour of the visiting royal.
On Wednesday morning, the Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and selected Bhutanese delegation members will leave Bangladesh for Bhutan by a special flight.
Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will see them off at the airport.
The Bhutanese King will visit Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj.
On Thursday, the King will visit Kurigram Special Economic Zone.
He will leave Bangladesh territory for Golakganj, Assam via Sonahat Land Port on Thursday afternoon.
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, will see him off there.
The 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, sent a letter of congratulations to the prime minister recently saying under her dynamic and strong leadership, Bangladesh has enjoyed peace, stability and unprecedented economic development.
He also termed Bhutan as a "close friend" and rejoiced with the people of Bangladesh on this occasion.
Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.
Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.
Bangladesh and Nepal keen to boost bilateral trade
Visiting State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and Nepalese Commerce Minister Damodar Bhandari on Saturday discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest at a hotel in Nepal.
They also put emphasis on easy communication between local Banglabandha and Nepal's Kakarbhita by land and expansion of trade.
Visiting Kakarbhita on Saturday morning, the state minister noted Kakarbhita land port is 37 kilometers (Km) off Banglabandha land port and this territory is part of India.
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He said they discussed how Nepal can join Bangladesh using 37 Km of India's land directly. Bangladesh, India and Nepal will work together to use this route directly.
The state minister on Friday visited Phuentsholing border of Bhutan through 'Banglabandha Land Port' in Panchagarh district and Phulbari land port in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal of India.
Welcomed by Phuentsholing Governor Karmi Jurmi on the Phuentsholing border, the state minister went to Pasakha land port from the border where he discussed expansion of trade between the countries.
Bhutanese king to arrive on Monday on a four-day visit to Bangladesh
Banglabandha is 142 kilometers off of Bhutan’s bordering area Phuentsholing.
Bangladesh Land Port Authority Chairman Md Zillur Rahman Chowdhury, Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Salahuddin Roman Chowdhury, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Munshi Md Moniruzzaman, part-time member of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Land Port Authority Ziauddin Ahmed Bhuiyan and Superintending Engineer of the Land Port Authority M Hasan Ali were present during the meeting with Nepalese commerce minister.
Bhutanese king to arrive on Monday on a four-day visit to Bangladesh
Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is scheduled to arrive on Monday on a four-day visit demonstrating the strong relations that Bangladesh and Bhutan have developed steadily since 1971.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and the First Lady will receive the king amid gun salute and guard of honor.
The king is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport 10am on Monday by a special flight, a senior official told UNB.
After the ceremony at the airport, the king will go to Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
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On Monday afternoon, the Bhutanese King will have a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office. They will have tete-a-tete (one-to-one) meeting, too.
The two sides are likely to sign a number of MoUs after the meeting.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will meet the king at his place of residence same day before the meeting with the prime minister.
On Tuesday, the king will visit National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar.
Together with the president and prime minister, the king will attend the ceremony at the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar.
He will plant a sapling there.
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The king will also visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery.
He will visit Bangabhaban where he will be received by the president and the first lady.
The king will have a meeting with the president at 4:30pm on Tuesday.
The president will host iftar and dinner in honour of the visiting royal.
On Wednesday morning, the Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, Queen of Bhutan and selected Bhutanese delegation members will leave Bangladesh for Bhutan by a special flight.
Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will see them off at the airport.
The Bhutanese king will visit Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone, Araihazar, Narayanganj.
On Thursday, the king will visit Kurigram Special Economic Zone.
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He will leave Bangladesh territory for Golakganj, Assam via Sonahat Land Port on Thursday afternoon.
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping will see him off there.
The 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, sent a letter of congratulations to the prime minister recently saying under her dynamic and strong leadership, Bangladesh has enjoyed peace, stability and unprecedented economic development.
He also termed Bhutan as a "close friend" and rejoiced with the people of Bangladesh on this occasion.
Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.
Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.
Govt trying to free the hijacked ship and bring back crew members safely as soon as possible: Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the government is trying to free the hijacked ship MV Abdullah and bring back its crew members safely as soon as possible.
"We are trying to rescue the sailors and the ship, making sure that they remain unharmed," he said while responding to questions from journalists.
The Foreign Minister said that when MV Jahan Moni was hijacked, it took 100 days to free the ship and the crew.
He said there is coal in the ship and it is a combustible material. "So, nothing can be done which could endanger the combustible material, and damage the ship."
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"That is how we are proceeding and those who hijacked the ship have already contacted the owner. Various international organisations are also cooperating with us in this regard. Hope we can rescue the sailors soon," he added.
Meanwhile, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of India’s Naval Staff, said on Saturday that the Indian Navy will take affirmative action to ensure there is safety and security in the Indian ocean.
The Indian Navy is keeping a close watch on the hijacked Bangladeshi vessel MV Abdullah and it has been taken to Somalia, he said.
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"The Indian Navy is very clear about its job. This is the Indian Ocean, named after us, and if we don't take action, then who will?" he said.