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Bangladesh, Jordan highlight importance of concluding pending bilateral instruments for diversified ties
Bangladesh and Jordan have discussed tapping the full potential of bilateral trade, employment of more skilled manpower in Jordan, establishment of direct air connectivity, increasing tourism cooperation and cooperation at multilateral forums.
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The two countries put emphasis on concluding a number of pending bilateral instruments for diversified engagements between the two brotherly countries.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen had a bilateral meeting with his Jordanian counterpart Majed Alqatarneh in Amman November 8 and discussed the issues, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
Masud Momen invited the Jordanian Foreign Secretary to visit Dhaka early 2024 for the next meeting.
During the meeting the Foreign Secretary reiterated Bangladesh’s unwavering support to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people through the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strongly raised the Palestinian issue in all her recent engagements at bilateral and multilateral forums.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for the unity of the Ummah at the recently held International Conference on Women in Islam held in Jeddah and meeting with the OIC Ambassadors based in Dhaka, said Masud Momen.
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The Foreign Secretary highlighted the development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and invited Jordanian businesses to take advantage of the opportunities created by it.
Jordanian Foreign Secretary thanked Bangladesh for sheltering over 1 million Rohingyas from Myanmar.
He also mentioned that the people of Jordan are proud of the recent economic development of Bangladesh.
He briefed about the various initiatives taken by Jordan for a ceasefire in the occupied Palestine and for finding a permanent and just solution for the people of Palestine.
The two sides highlighted holding foreign office consultations on a regular basis. The discussion continued over lunch hosted by the Jordanian counterpart in honor of the Foreign Secretary.
Earlier, in the morning, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen paid a courtesy call on Prince Hassan bin Talal at the Royal Court of Jordan.
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Prince Hassan briefed Foreign Secretary on the Gaza situation and its root causes.
Madrasa teacher arrested for raping student in Kurigram
A madrasa teacher has been arrested in a case filed for raping a 12-year-old student at Dakshin Chat village of Tilai union of Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram.
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The arrestee is Masudur Rahman (25) of the village and a teacher of Dakshin Chat GopalpurDarul Quran Nurani Madrasa.
Bhurungamari Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Md Ruhul Amin, confirmed the matter on Thursday afternoon.
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The victim's mother filed the case at Bhurungamari Police Station on Wednesday, said the OC.
According to police, Masud raped the student on Tuesday and threatened him not to tell anyone about the incident.
Later, when the victim fell ill, he told his mother about the incident.
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The suspected rapist was sent to Kurigram Court on Wednesday, added the OC.
Ambassador Iwama Kiminori visits project site of Japanese grant in Habiganj
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori visited Habiganj to attend the inauguration ceremony of the project for construction of a community skill development center in Habiganj district provided to the NGO “Community Initiative Society (CIS)” by the government of Japan through the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP).
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The project is expected to provide vocational training for more than 1,000 vulnerable young people by constructing a two-storied Community Skill Development Center.
“I hope this center will enable vulnerable people to receive the necessary skills for employment, generate a source of income, and reduce their social and economic vulnerabilities,”, said Ambassador Iwama.
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Japan has supported 213 NGO projects through its Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) since 1989 with a view to enhancing economic and social human security at the grassroots levels.
The total sum of these GGHSP grants extended to NGOs in Bangladesh to date amounts approximately to $16.85 million.
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Chinese investment in Bangladesh grew from $241 million to nearly $1.4 billion in 7 years: Ambassador
Assuring China’s continued support towards Bangladesh’s journey to modernization, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Thursday said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most compatible and befitting development cooperation with ‘Vision 2041’ and ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
“China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to tighten the ties of cooperation and embrace a new stage of Belt and Road cooperation of higher quality at higher level,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at a programme titled ‘BRI@10: Ushering in Next Golden Decade’.
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The envoy said China will fully leverage its economic complementarity and strengthen cooperation on infrastructure development, ICT, new energy, agriculture and so on, to usher in the next golden decade of Belt and Road cooperation.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke highly of the BRI, that it has opened a new door for Bangladesh’s development.
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President of Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB), Ke Changliang, spoke as the chief guest at the event organized by Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB).
DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus delivered the welcome and closing remarks at the event conducted by DCAB General Secretary Emrul Kayesh.
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On the journey of Belt and Road cooperation, the ambassador said Bangladesh and China have always been good friends with mutual trust and good partners in seeking common development.
In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a historic visit to Bangladesh, where he and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a new era of China-Bangladesh Belt and Road cooperation. Since then, the envoy said, China and Bangladesh have sowed the seeds of hope, which have sprouted and blossomed under the hard work and care of the two peoples.
“Over the past seven years, we have built 12 highways, 21 bridges and 27 power and energy projects in Bangladesh, contributing to turn the dreams of the Bangladeshi people into reality,” said the envoy.
Over the past seven years, Chinese investment in Bangladesh has grown from USD 241 million to nearly USD 1.4 billion.
At present, there are nearly 700 Chinese enterprises operating in Bangladesh.
“As CEAB President Ke just shared, these enterprises are active practitioners deeply cultivating in Bangladesh,” said Ambassador Yao.
They assumed social responsibilities in Bangladesh and have made significant contributions to economic development, environmental protection, community services, public welfare and charity by creating more than 550,000 jobs in Bangladesh.
Over the past seven years, he said, the two countries have deepened cultural exchanges, and the hearts of the two peoples have come closer and closer.
Ambassador Yao said Chinese President Xi Jinping has also put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI) aiming at supporting the timely achievement of all 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
It promotes international cooperation in eight priority areas: poverty alleviation, food security, pandemic response and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity in the digital era, he said.
“All these are also the focus of Bangladesh in its Vision 2041 perspective plan,” Ambassador Yao said, adding that it is hoped that Bangladesh would make good use of China’s aid, preferential loans and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to actively carry out policy dialogue, experience sharing, capacity building and practical cooperation, thereby bring about more tangible benefits to the two peoples and make joint contribution to the early realization of the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation and the dream of Sonar Bangla.
The ambassador said Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Security Initiative (GSI), upholding the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security; pursuing the long-term objective of building a security community; and advocating a new path to security featuring dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance and win-win over zero-sum. China does as it says, the ambassador said.
Unfortunately, the recent escalation of Israeli-Palestinian conflict has once again plunged the Middle East into war. In just one month, more than 10,000 civilians have died in the Gaza Strip.
On the question of Palestine, China will continue to stand on the side of peace, on the side of justice, on the side of international law, on the side of shared aspirations of the majority of countries in the world, and on the side of human conscience, said the ambassador.
Rohingya Crisis
Another example of China’s vigorous implementation of GSI is its mediation efforts with Bangladesh and Myanmar to resolve the issue of displaced people of Rakhine State, said the Chinese envoy.
He said the issue is by nature a bilateral one between Bangladesh and Myanmar. “China mediates as a common friend of both.”
The envoy said now the international aid for the displaced people is declining sharply, and the security situation in the camps is deteriorating.
The displaced people face a daunting humanitarian crisis. China plays its role as a responsible major country and provides assistance to the displaced people to help improve their living conditions, he said.
Tomorrow, China will donate a batch of emergency supplies of medical equipment to the Cox's Bazar 250 Bed District Sadar Hospital, and provide materials to the displaced people through Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.
In the meantime, all stakeholders have increasingly become aware that repatriation is the only long-term and most effective solution to the crisis, said the envoy.
“This year by far, under the mediation of China, Bangladesh and Myanmar have reached important consensus on early initiation of repatriation,” he said.
Officials from the two sides have kept frequent and direct talks in this regard. Bangladesh and Myanmar have also reinstated visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders.
“With joint efforts, we managed two rounds of ‘come & talk’ missions by Myanmar officials and one ‘go & see’ mission to Rakhine State by representatives of the displaced people and Bangladeshi officials,” said the envoy.
In this process, the displaced people gradually built up and enhanced confidence towards repatriation, he said.
China has also kept in close contact with UN agencies and ASEAN states, and called upon the international community to extend understanding and support to Bangladesh and Myanmar, so as to create proper conditions for early initiation of repatriation.
International SeaKeepers Society arrives in Bangladesh to work on ocean health
Speakers at the launching ceremony of the International SeaKeepers Society's Bangladesh chapter have laid emphasis on joint efforts to raise awareness about ocean issues and support the cause to protect and preserve the sea in Bangladesh.
“No single organization can do it. It really takes everybody to solve the problem. Everybody has a role to play. Everyone matters. We look forward to a big Bangladesh Chapter,” said Jay Wade, chairman of the International SeaKeepers Society, at the event in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Enayetullah Khan, who contributes enormously towards many human causes like the conservation of wildlife, has been named as the President of the Bangladesh Chapter the organisation.
Chinese Ambassador hopes for stability after next election, continued cooperation with Bangladesh
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen today (November 09, 2023) reiterated his country's non-interference approach towards other countries' internal affairs, noting that the future of Bangladesh will be determined by the people of Bangladesh.
He laid emphasis on maintaining political and social stability through joint efforts.
“Our policy is very clear. We don’t intervene. It is our hope that there will be stability after the next election and that our cooperation will continue,” the Chinese ambassador said. He hoped that the election will be held based on “constitution and laws.”
He was addressing an event titled “BRI@10: Ushering in Next Golden Decade” at a Dhaka hotel, organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB).
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CEAB President Ke Changliang spoke as the special guest at the event. DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh also spoke on the occasion.
“We want stability. We hope, Chinese people and property will be protected. So far, we feel safe. Thanks for the efforts that have been taken,” said the ambassador.
“This is the pre-election year in Bangladesh. Many friends from the media have come to ask me what is China’s observations on the current political situation in Bangladesh. I want to underscore that the upcoming election is an internal affair of Bangladesh,” said Ambassador Yao.
As a matter of foreign policy, he said, China adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries, and opposes any force interfering in internal affairs of other countries.
“The future of Bangladesh shall be determined by people of Bangladesh. China is full of confidence about the better future of Bangladesh as well as China-Bangladesh relations,” he said.
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“As a friend of Bangladesh and a country with large investments, enterprises and personnel in Bangladesh,” he said, “China sincerely hopes that all stakeholders in Bangladesh would take the fundamental interests of the people into full consideration, properly resolve their differences, and jointly maintain political and social stability.”
In two years’ time, China and Bangladesh will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The envoy said China is willing to take this opportunity to work with Bangladeshi friends from all walks of life to stay committed to the themes of peace, stability and development, push bilateral relations to a new level, and usher in a new era of friendly cooperation.
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US urges Bangladesh govt to protect workers’ right to peaceful protest, investigate allegations of false charges
The United States on Wednesday called on the government of Bangladesh to protect workers’ right to peaceful protest and investigate allegations of false criminal charges against workers and labor leaders.
"We are also concerned about the ongoing repression of workers and trade unionists," Matthew Miller, US Department of State Spokesperson, said in a statement.
He said they commend the members of the private sector who have endorsed union proposals for a reasonable wage increase.
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The United States urged the tripartite process to revisit the minimum wage decision to ensure that it addresses the growing economic pressures faced by workers and their families.
The United States condemned recent "violence against workers" in Bangladesh protesting over the minimum wage, as well as the criminalization of legitimate worker and trade union activities.
"We were saddened by the reported killing by police last week of Rasel Howlader, a 26-year-old factory worker and union member from Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation," Miller said.
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"Additionally, we mourn the loss of Imran Hossain, a 32-year-old worker who died in a fire set by protestors inside a Dhaka factory," he said, extending condolences to the families and the greater labor communities.
Miller said governments must ensure workers are able to exercise their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining without fear of violence, reprisal, or intimidation.
"Through our work in Bangladesh and globally, we are firmly committed to advancing these fundamental human rights," the US Department of State spokesperson said.
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Malaysia for stronger ties with Bangladesh: Envoy Shameem Ahsan
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md. Shameem Ahsan presented credentials to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta`in Billah, King of Malaysia, at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
After the presentation, the high commissioner conveyed the greetings of the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to the Malaysian King, said a media release on Wednesday.
The King also reciprocated and conveyed his best wishes to the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
While terming the existing bilateral relation as extremely cordial, the Bangladeshi diplomat expressed optimism that relations will strengthen further in depth and dimensions in the coming days, it reads.
The King expressed satisfaction for the existing excellent bilateral relations and stressed on increased interaction in the fields of trade and investment, among others.
He congratulated the new envoy of Bangladesh and assured all-out support to the high commissioner during his tenure. Before the commencement of the presentation ceremony, the high commissioner was accorded a General Salute by the “Prestige Guard” of the National Palace, according to the release.
After the presentation ceremony, the King invited the envoys for a joint discussion. Bangladesh high commissioner expressed gratitude to Malaysia for being the first country in South East Asia for recognising the independence of Bangladesh.
He also thanked Malaysia for hosting a large number of Bangladesh nationals. Later, the King hosted a lunch in honour of the envoys who presented credentials on Wednesday, it continued.
Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Bin Alamin, Secretary General Dato` Sri Amran Bin Mohamed Zin and other dignitaries were present during the ceremony.
Currently, two-way bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Malaysia is over $4 billion, and Malaysia is the eighth largest investor in Bangladesh.
No need to summon any foreign diplomats before polls, hopes Shahariar
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Wednesday expressed hope that there will be no need to summon foreign diplomats before the upcoming national election on any issues.
“We have reminded them of their limits in the past. It's too close to election and they will remain careful," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The State Minister made the remarks while responding to a question about previous summoning of foreign diplomats after their statements about the country’s internal politics.
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“After the recent months' engagement, I do not think it will require (summoning any of the diplomat)... They said they will remain careful as their statements will have a bigger impact at this time," he said.
Shahriar Alam said everyone is now in election mood and it is too close to the election.
He also mentioned that the government will take necessary steps if needed.
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“However, if needed, it will be sad, and we will have no choice but to do whatever we think is right,” Shahriar said.
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MakeItIconic campaign launched for promoting French outlook ahead of Paris 2024 Olympic
France has launched a global campaign that sends a “powerful signal” to the international community and highlights efforts to build on the country’s strengths - industrial and economic dynamism, innovation potential, and cultural and artistic vitality.
MakeItIconic campaign has been launched to promote the French outlook ahead of the upcoming Olympics to be held in France in 2024.
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the biggest event ever organised in France. The Olympic Games will take place from 26 July to 11 August 2024.
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“In France, we believe that it's thanks to our audacity that we change things. That audacity is reflected in our heritage and permeates all dimensions,” reads a press release received from the French Embassy in Dhaka.
Investing in France or choosing French companies and products means promoting economic, technological and ecological development that benefits everyone, according to the campaign message.
The French economy seeks the right balance between competitiveness and sustainability.
Traveling in France means choosing multifaceted experiences, to admire both the splendor of its landscapes and its humanist spirit, reads the press release.
Tourism in France is responsible and environmentally friendly.
Savoring what France has to offer means choosing innovative agriculture and culinary arts that are great to eat and good for the planet, sustainable agriculture that feeds both the soil and people, and gastronomy that is open to international cuisine and the blending of various cultures, it said.
The campaign message mentioned that experiencing France means choosing a system where culture and education stimulate the mind, where education integrates the challenges of today and those of tomorrow, where culture is in motion, engaged in international dialogue, and enables young talent to flourish.
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It said making commitments alongside France means committing to a world that is fairer and more sustainable and sharing solutions with a strong environmental and social impact, for the common good of humanity, according to the campaign message.
“Audacity drives us when it comes to both practical skills and social skills, and enables us to build a fairer world, in the service of universal progress,” it said, adding that the aim of this campaign is to highlight France as it is.
France was behind the historic success of the Paris Agreement. “Our collective responsibility is to preserve this achievement and make it flourish.”
On a global scale and particularly in Europe, thanks to the ambitious reforms instituted in recent years, France stands out as a country conducive to investment and innovation, said the media release.
In 2022, France ranked 1st in Europe in terms of foreign investment, for the fourth consecutive year.
It has even ranked 1st in Europe for industrial investments for 20 years and for R&D projects since 2018.
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Around 16,900 foreign companies are present in France, many of which have been there for decades.
These companies contribute to 20.1% of the revenue of companies in France and 16.5% of value added, and employ 11.9% of the workforce, said the media release.